Action group launched on Cannock floods 'nightmare'
Residents in a small cul-de-sac today spoke of their "nightmare" after their road has been repeatedly flooded.
People living in Heathbank Drive, Huntington, Cannock, saw water surge into their homes last summer and are now filled with fear everytime it rains.
They have experienced problems with water flowing off nearby fields and into their cul-de-sac ever since and now have sandbags piling up around their homes. Firefighters have been called on several occasions to help clear water.
The heavy downpours in June saw some residents see their carpets wrecked along with other belongings and accessories.
They are concerned it could happen again and this week formed the Heathbank and Teddesley Flood Action Group to try to solve the problems.
One of the group organisers, teacher David Wood said that the main flooding had affected around 10 to 12 houses in the area, and their group was to bring together Staffordshire County Council, the residents and the farmer from a neighbouring field where much of the run-off water comes from.
"It has been a nightmare few months for us. We have put out sandbags and even built walls to try to stop the problem," he said.
Worse hit by the flood are Steve and Amanda Mattocks, parents to six children, who live by the field and have had around two foot of water deluge their house regularly.
Mr Mattocks, 41, said: "The insurance claim from the flooding in June has been £50,000 of damage. We have lived on the estate since it was built about 21 years ago, living in this house and this is the worse its been.
"I want to build a wall to try and stop the water getting in but it hasn't been dry enough to do it and the whole driveway just gets covered in silt."
Mrs Mattocks, 39, added: "It's a nightmare. I'm scared whenever it rains its going to happen again and I don't think I can take much more of it. We even have to lift the manhole covers to try and get rid of the water, it's terrible."
Neighbour Kevin Romais, 39 said: "I have built a wall to stop the water flooding into my property.
"We are all helping each other though.
"We did get Staffordshire County Council come here on Thursday morning with a truck to help clean up the latest bout but its the first we have seen in months.
"The fire service have been out a number of times too to help get rid of the water." Mr Wood, 32 said that they were positive they could make a change with the group.
They have sought the advice of the National Flooding Forum.
Reports of flooding problems across Staffordshire have doubled in the past eight months, with the county's highways crews being called out to more than 3,000 drainage problems.
