District councillors call for action to tackle long-running road flooding problem
Community leaders have called on Staffordshire County Council to sort out a long-running flooding issue along a Cannock Chase road.
District councillors John Preece, Zaphne Stretton and Josh Newbury have hit out at the lack of action to tackle to the long-running problem affecting a stretch of road in Norton Canes.
They said the flooding along Brownhills Road, next to Chasewater Country Park, is overspill from a series of balancing lakes between Chasewater Railway embankment and the main road from Norton Canes to Brownhills.
But there is no solution in sight according to Councillor Preece, despite him being in contact with Staffordshire County Council about the issue for more than two years.
He said: “I launched an online and paper petition about the issue at the beginning of January last year with over 1,000 signatures calling for action.
“From this I had been in regular contact with an officer from the county council about the progress, but he left the organisation several months ago and my letters to the relevant cabinet members for an update since then have been met with silence.”
Councillor Newbury said: “The lack of information coming from Staffordshire County Council is concerning. There are big issues in Norton Canes at the moment regarding problems with the state of our paths and highways, particularly with Norton Green Lane and its patchwork of potholes, but also with the lack of drain clearance and uneven pathways – and even the lack of information or notification of road works and temporary traffic lights.”
The flooding has sparked safety concerns along the affected stretch of road – particularly as colder weather approaches – and there are fears the water could freeze over and create even more dangerous conditions. But even in dry weather there is water running alongside the road, the councillors added.
Councillor Stretton said: “The road is treacherous during the winter and parts of the road can become a ice rink. The county council need to get this sorted as a matter of urgency before there are any serious accidents.”
Work is taking place to tackle the issue however, Staffordshire County Council said this week.
Councillor Helen Fisher, cabinet member for highways and transport at Staffordshire County Council said: “Our highways teams are aware of this long-term issue and are working with various parties and landowners to investigate and find a solution.
“Crews have already carried out work to keep the gullies clear while the ranger service have tried to lower levels of the pools using pumps and digging drainage ditches.
“Should problems occur over the winter period, our winter service teams will monitor conditions and treat the area accordingly.”
