Upper Teesdale flooding problems are getting worse, say residents

BLOCKED drains and a poor infrastructure have been blamed for worsening flooding in an upper dale village.

Cars were damaged in Newbiggin last Wednesday morning after the B6277 was left submerged following heavy rain and snow melt.

Two feet of water caused root problems for hedges and holes in farm walls at a stretch near Gateside.

One vehicle was written off after driving into the water and floods affected land behind Newbiggin Village Hall as well as a stretch of the B6277 between Newbiggin and Bowlees.

Rain and snowmelt were the primary causes but the finger of blame has been pointed at Durham County Council for its maintenance practices and poor drainage system.

Farmer Robert Hooper awoke to holes in his walls.

He said: “The thing that annoys me is the council has money to waste on £30,000 grit rounds when it’s plus 7C.

“It has washed all my hedge bottoms out – and when the wagons come down it just sprays onto them.

“I know when it comes bad it’s difficult to deal with but it would help if the drains were open.”

The fields surrounding Newbiggin are served by drainage systems dating to the 19th century and flooding is relatively common.

But villagers fear the problem is getting worse.

Sue and Mel Davies have lived at Laneside since 2004 and have spent thousands of pounds trying to flood-proof their home.

Mr Davies said: “The drains are not big enough to cope – it happens two or three times a year and it used to wash our driveway away.

“The drains get blocked with debris – they come to clear the drains before the leaves fall and the first rains we get wash it all into the drains.”

Mrs Davies added: “The council men that come out are really helpful and try their best – but they cannot be here all the time.”

The Davies and neighbouring farmer Garth Collinson often clear out the drains themselves in an effort to shift floodwaters.

Mr and Mrs Davies have witnessed several near misses on the blind bend outside their home when vehicles enter any water at speed.

Mr Davies feared the consequences could be dire if the drainage wasn’t sorted soon.

“We have lost count of the number of people who have got stuck – we helped 11 one night a few years ago,” he added.

“We’ve got visions of somebody getting killed here – I don’t want my wife to have to deal with a body retrieval.”

Council workers repaired a damaged section of the road last week in the wake of the flooding.

Newbiggin’s Phil Waites has lived in the village for 25 years and has known the village flood regularly.

“It’s flooded for at the last 50 years – they have known it and they’ve not really bothered about it,” he said.

“It needs to be done. It’s as simple as that – the drains simply do not have the capacity.”

The top road from Newbiggin to Middleton-in-Teesdale past Lane Head Farm also suffered flooding and its existing pot holes bore the brunt of existing traffic.

One Newbiggin resident, who did not wish to be named, added: “There are two areas, one at Low Houses and one on the High Force side of Newbiggin Village Hall that are getting worse every year for flooding – the drainage is very poor.”

John Reed, head of technical services at Durham County Council, said: “We are investigating the recent flooding and will be reviewing whether any further preventative measures are needed.”