Villagers plead for five-year road flooding problem to be fixed 'once and for all'

The issue was first reported to Staffordshire County Council around five years ago, residents have said. But they now say enough is enough – and their petition was presented to the county council at its latest full meeting on July 18.

The petition stated: “Heavy flooding occurs regularly at both ends of our village at Penkridge Bank Road and Slitting Mill Road. The flooding appears to be caused by inadequate gully drainage, possibly resulting from the lack of county council maintenance to the drainage gullies over several years.

“Staffordshire County Council has been aware of this issue now for several years and has allowed it to deteriorate by failing to address the problem. Residents and visitors to Slitting Mill believe the situation needs to be addressed urgently.”

Slitting Mill resident and Rugeley Town Council chair Glenn Kirkham said: “We gathered 118 signatures supporting the petition – Slitting Mill has just 150 houses so quite well supported by all. Flooding affects both ends of the village and it’s not acceptable for schoolchildren and others to have to wade across the pool to get to school.”

Councillor Mike Sutherland, who represents the Etchinghill and Heath ward, presented the petition on behalf of residents at Thursday’s full county council meeting (July 18). He said: “Over the past five years or so they’ve had to cope with severe flooding on the main road.

“This causes massive inconvenience because the water doesn’t flow away, so it effectively shuts off an access point at this village. The main issue is on Penkridge Bank Road, where children attending The Hart School are unable to use the flooded pathway.

“They must pass by either walking in the centre of this 40mph road, where water may be shallower or alternatively by wading through water, mud and silt at the shallow end of the flood. There is no alternative as this is the only footpath in and out of that village.

“The flooding is also at this point a hazard for all road users; pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and vehicles alike, as the flood itself congregates on a bend. The residents are asking – quite rightly – that immediate priority be given by Staffordshire Highways to once and for all resolve this flooding issue.

“Highways have tried their best. But regrettably, their best is not good enough.”

Councillor Mark Deaville, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for strategic highways, said: “We are aware of an issue with localised flooding on Penkridge Bank Road. The drainage system is limited in its capacity and an improvement scheme will need to be designed, funded, and agreed upon with adjacent