‘Substantive action’ demanded to tackle flooding in north Derbyshire village

In the last year, a number of properties in Old Tupton have been hit by floods on several occasions.

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A councillor has accused a company behind a housing development in the Ankerbold Road area of the village of taking ‘inadequate’ measures to prevent flooding.

The developer, Robert Woodhead Ltd, said the ‘issues are in part a result of significant rainfall’ – and described ‘management of surface water’ as a priority.

Debbie Owen, 64, of Station New Road, said: “We've lived here for more than 30 years and never experienced any flooding until they started the development.

“There have been four major flooding incidents which have devastated our garden with water coming down and destroying our log cabin, wall and fencing.

“Every time it rains we're worried there will be more flooding.

“If something is not done to resolve the issue once and for all, we're concerned our properties will sustain even more damage.

“This can't go on."

Councillor Ross Shipman, leader of the Liberal Democrats on North East Derbyshire District Council, called for ‘substantive action’.

He said ‘the whole area was scraped down to bare clay, which was a recipe for disaster from the outset’ – but Robert Woodhead Ltd said the topsoil was removed before it took possession of the development site.

Coun Shipman added: “The first major flooding incident happened about a year ago.

“It was raised with the developers, who took until the summer to implement a system of trenches and bunds.

“They gave their assurance that would be adequate – which it clearly wasn’t, as there was another major incident just before Christmas.

“At a recent parish council meeting, representatives of Robert Woodhead Ltd met with residents to reassure them again – although every response was skirted over in terms of saying that they had processes and procedures but with no more detail to back it up.”

Coun Shipman said recent work carried out by the developer ‘hasn’t improved the situation for those residents previously affected – and has made the situation worse by impacting other neighbouring properties’.

He added: “There’s an absolute failure to get a hold of this situation and an apparent reluctance to explain and share with residents exactly what they’re doing to address the problem.

“Robert Woodhead Ltd needs to take ownership of the problem and deal with it as a priority.

“Generic and dismissive responses have got to be replaced by substantive action.”

A spokesperson for Robert Woodhead Ltd said: “We are aware of the issues regarding surface water.

“These issues are in part a result of significant rainfall affecting both the development and the surrounding area.

“The issue has been compounded by the fact that three of the four nearby highway drainage gullies, outside of the site boundary, have collapsed meaning they were unable to cope with the volume of water.

“Robert Woodhead Ltd took possession of the site in July 2020 following a thorough archaeological survey where the topsoil layer had to be removed.

“Our first priority once on site was to begin site enabling works including the management of surface water.

“We are in regular communication with affected residents with a director overseeing our response.”

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