Flooding on roads 'worst it has been in 27 years'

A councillor has called flooding on the roads around an Essex village the worst he has seen in nearly 30 years.

James Abbott, a Green Party councillor for Braintree District Council, whose ward includes Rivenhall, criticised Essex County Council for not doing enough to improve general infrastructure on local highways.

"The current situation is the worst it's been since I have been a councillor and that's 27 years," he said.

A spokesperson for Essex Highways said: "We have seen an exceptional level of rain across Essex over the past few weeks, which has had a significant impact on the drainage system."

On Thursday, floodwater under the railway bridge on Oak Road, Rivenhall, was approximately 6in deep.

Resident Paul Turner, 52, said living next to the bridge was "a nightmare" when the road flooded.

"I can't walk my dog - sometimes I can't turn into my drive," he said.

Resident Jean Bush, 92, who also lives next to the bridge, said it was an "awful" experience when it flooded because she could not leave her house by herself.

Her son, Steve, 61, said: "My mum is virtually trapped by the floodwater, so I have to come and take her out by car, but even that is becoming harder.

"She is becoming a prisoner in her own home when it's like this."

Abbott said Essex County Council probably did not have the money to fix the problem properly, but he wanted "a multi-agency meeting" to try and raise funds.

He was also critical of its recent "green" rating award from the government for its road maintenance and repair.

"They will say everything is great, and they're getting these awards, but people's everyday living experiences are flooding, potholes, traffic congestion," he said.

Essex Highways said: "We regularly monitor and maintain drains and gullies, and through our winter service will address any specific issues that might arise from heavy rain.

"This financial year we have cleansed more than 160,000 drains across the county.

"If we receive a report of a blocked road due to flooding, the road will be assessed and closed if necessary.

"We would encourage the public to report any issues with flooding using our online 'Tell Us' tool if the issue does not clear within 24 hours."

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.