£600,000 scheme to resolve estate's flooding problems

People in the Cleves Cross area have had their homes flooded several times in recent years.

The problem is caused by the area's drainage system, which has a very limited capacity and is unable to deal with heavy rainfall.

Councillor Fred Chaplin, deputy leader of Sedgefield Borough Council, said residents had suffered for years.

He said: "It is mainly when we get a flash flood, because of the old system of soakaways, which was never adopted by Northumbrian Water because it didn't meet their criteria.

"They are not adequate to take the water away, and on this estate there have been instances of flooding because the surface water hasn't been drained away.

"The flooding affects one area in particular, in Bowes Close. The other problem it causes for people is insuring furnishings and fittings."

In order to alleviate the flooding problems, Sedgefield Borough Council drew up a scheme which was originally expected to take three years to complete.

The system is the most complex engineering scheme designed by the authority.

When the scheme went to tender, it was discovered that savings could be made if all the work was carried out in one continuous contract.

As a result, the project, which was approved by the council's cabinet last week, is due to start in early April and will take five months to complete.

The work will cause disruption for local people, but Coun Chaplin believes that the benefits it will bring will make the disturbance worthwhile.

He said: "It was going to be spread out over three years and that would have caused a lot of problems for people on the estate. But doing it all in one will make the disturbance a lot shorter and hopefully, by the end of the year, the problem will have been resolved, so it is good news for the people of the estate."

Residents in the area affected by the work will receive letters giving brief details of the proposals, including names and contact numbers of officers involved