“There’s no compensation and no apologies”: Businesses mop up after flooding in Dunstable
“There’s no compensation and no apologies”: Businesses mop up after flooding in Dunstable.
Businesses in Dunstable were flooded this week following the first heavy rainfall of the year.
Shop owners were forced to mop up water from their premises on Wednesday as rain fell in the town.
Despite a dry summer and the driest spring since 1893, the drains on High Street South overflowed. Cllr Louise O’Riordan uploaded a video of a person sticking his fingers down one drain to clear rubbish.
Nadine O’Hara, the former proprietor of R&R Hair Services, has moved out of her location down the street. She said, “The salon has been flooded several times. We said we wouldn’t spend another winter there.”
When she went to the salon this week, there were pools of water on the floor. She stated, “Some of the reasons I left were because it was simply terrible.
There is no recompense, no apologies. Nadine blasted Central Bedfordshire Council: “They’re now stating it’s up to the individuals who work in the companies to keep the drains clear. “No, it is the council’s responsibility.”
Baker, executive member for highways, stated that the council cleaned the gullies on High Street North, High Street South, and the town centre, which were “all working properly just a few weeks ago in July”.
He explained: “The road gullies connect to the main Anglian Water sewer; if it is full, the roadside gullies cease draining until there is capacity further down the system.
This looks to be what is happening: the drains are not stopped, but the system cannot handle the volume of water.
“We will assist Anglian Water in their assessments to determine whether it is possible to enhance the capacity of the entire drainage system so that it can better cope with heavy rains.
“While this is not good news for the residents and businesses whose premises have been flooded, there is no simple remedy.
“We will continue to work closely with Dunstable councillors, Anglian Water, and most importantly our residents, on how best to reduce the impact of extreme weather on Dunstable.”
According to an Anglian Water representative, the flooding occurred “due to the exceptionally high volume of rainfall across Bedfordshire”. They explained:
“When our network hits capacity, the road gullies cannot drain the water off the roads. “The surface water sewers on High Street North and South have been inspected and cleaned within the last 12 months.
Flooding is frequently a complex issue with several owners of the drainage network, including Highways, local authorities, and private individuals.
We’re now working with multi-agency groups (MAGs) across our region in flood-prone areas on a variety of mitigation measures, which you can learn more about on the website.
The Saracen’s Head had planned to reopen this weekend following a £50,000 renovation, but it was also severely impacted.
Cllr O’Riordan, who assisted with clean-up operations, expressed hope that CBC will listen to all stakeholders, particularly businesses, and develop a clear vision for their town.
They should be held accountable. Someone needs to help the businesses and the lifeblood of our community; our independent enterprises require assistance.”
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