Call for action to keep drains clear to prevent rural flooding
A Stafford borough councillor has called on the county authority to take urgent action to tackle flooding issues in rural areas by making sure drains and grids are maintained and cleaned regularly.
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Councillor Alec Sandiford said residents in Barlaston, Fulford, Meir Heath, Rough Close and Saverley Green have experienced repeated flooding caused by blocked or neglected drainage systems.
The Fulford ward member urged residents to raise blocked drains and other highway issues promptly on Staffordshire County Council’s reporting system. He said: “Flooding caused by blocked drains and grids is entirely avoidable, yet it remains a persistent problem for residents.
“Maintaining these essential systems should be a fundamental duty of the county council’s highways department. Neglecting this basic responsibility not only causes damage to roads and property but also risks the safety and wellbeing of local communities.
“Clearing and maintaining drains and grids is not a luxury — it’s a necessity. With proper care, we can reduce the risk of flooding, protect our communities, and save taxpayers money in the long run.”
In early January roads across the borough were affected by floods.
County councillor Ian Parry, who represents the Stone Rural division, said: “Unusually high levels of rainfall over the winter have caused significant flooding problems in many areas.
“Climate change, and in most cases a backlog of maintenance of watercourses, has created more flooding issues than normal. Most of the flooded areas have been explored and work started to get to the cause of the problem, but there is more to do.
“We have increased both the amount we are spending and capacity of our maintenance teams to get ahead of the problem. I hope that people can bear with us as we do our best to tackle what has now become a significant environment challenge.”
Mark Deaville, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Strategic Highways, said: “Staffordshire’s road network is huge, stretching to more than 6,000km, which is why we’re investing an additional £45m over three years in its maintenance and upkeep.
“In 2024 more than 53,000 gullies were cleared and in July, August and September, for example, we were cleaning around 8,000 a month compared to 4,000 a month for the same period the year before. Overall, we did a fifth more in 2024 than in 2023 and that work continues this year, as we recognise its importance.
“However it’s all too easy for sudden violent downpours to sweep soil and debris off private land on to the roads and I would urge people to use our updated ReportIt system to let us know if there’s a problem.”
