Anger after years of garden flooding in Salehurst

Elaine Buckland, of Rotherview, says an issue with the storm drain behind her house causes flooding in her front garden and other properties on her road.

Both Highways England and East Sussex County Council say it is not their responsibility for the problem.

Ms Buckland said she cannot deal with it any longer after having to step through mud and water to get out of her home for too long.

“I feel like hitting my head against a brick wall,” she said.

“I know that at the moment everybody’s got water everywhere and compared to people up north whose houses are flooded this seems like a minor problem.

“But it never goes away and it never gets sorted out so when theirs clears mine is still there.”

According to Ms Buckland, the storm drain lies behind her house near to some woodland.

She said the design was poor because it meant leaves and sticks got caught up in the drain causing it to flood into her property and others.

She claims one of her neighbours is getting damp in their house because of it and another has ‘sink holes’ in their garden.

Ms Buckland said the flooding is also creating potholes in the road and was told that her garden cannot be fixed until Rotherview is.

“It seems like a false economy to me as the longer they leave it the bigger job they will be left with,” she said.

“I work full time so it’s hard for me to find the time to sort all this out.”

A county council spokesman said: “The problem with flooding in Salehurst relates to a drainage cover on private land, for which the county council is not responsible.

“However, we will be going out to jet the drainage system outside the property in question to ensure our drains are flowing freely and are clear of detritus.”

A Highways England spokesman said it was very unlikely that the issues were caused by their drainage on the A21. This is due to Ms Buckland’s house being higher than the road but the spokesman added someone would be sent to inspect the drain to make sure.

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