Villagers want probe into March flood

3:56pm Wednesday 26th March 2008

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Residents of Grove want urgent action to sort out drainage problems which have plagued their village for months.

Homeowners in North Drive, Vale Avenue and Cane Lane have called for an investigation into why flood water and sewage lapped at their doors again on Sunday, March 16, as well as during widespread flooding in July.

Thames Water said flooding was caused by a pumping station, near the Bay Tree pub, which could not cope with large volumes of water, but that it had no plans to expand the station because it was only upgraded six weeks ago.

And locals also said the village is not ready to cope with the new airfield development, which would involve 2,500 more homes being built.

Mother-of-two Kate Laybourne, 43, of North Drive, said: "This issue is serious, but it's solvable. I want some action quickly.

"I don't want to take my children away from this house and I don't want to worry about them catching something horrible when playing in the garden.

"For myself I want to sleep through a rainstorm and not leap to the window and check the water level around the house.

"They need to get this right before they put any other houses in."

Carol Haines, 57, of North Drive, said: "The pumping station has to be able to take the capacity when the new houses in Grove are built."

Thames Water said it was investigating the situation.