Calls to sort out Tilling Green flooding

Mason Road flooded once again following the downpour earlier this month.

In recent years, more frequent extreme rainfall, has seen water running off the Udimore Road and gathering at the low point of Mason Road.

This problem of ‘ponding’ has been an issue for many years but now some residents fear proposals to build 32 new homes and a community centre on the old Tilling Green School site – directly opposite where the ponding occurs –could exacerbate the problem.

Chairman of the Rye Emergency Action Community Team (REACT) Colonel Anthony Kimber, who coordinates community resilience for Rye Town Council, said: “It is noted that the flood risk 
statement comments that there are no historic flood events.

“In fact, Mason Road, the driveway from it on to the site and the green space on the south of the land is all subject to some surface water ponding after extreme rainfall.

“To better handle this surface water, REACT has welcomed the incorporation of a SUDS – sustainable drainage systems – into the development scheme and the proposal to connect this underneath Mason Road.”

However, he said given the record of ponding, there needs to be ‘reassurance’ the egress for any water collected on site can be drained effectively to the River Tillingham and not add to the long-term issues in the location.

The problem with surface water has been aggravated by issues with the Mason Road underground sewerage pump, which occasionally has been unable to cope, leading to Southern Water having to pump out the feeder tank.

Col Kimber said: “The proposal involves a new foul sewerage connection westwards across Mason Road, direct to the rising main from Tilling Green to the Mason Field pump.

“Given the history of problems with this pump and the additional load from this new development on to the system, it has been recommended that an holistic review is carried out by the responsible body, Southern Water.

“This should be published to reassure the community that the system will cope with the additional foul sewage provided by this new development.”

Meanwhile, a problem has been identified with one of the drains on Mason Road and reported to the local authority.

The council has denied receiving a complaint – but has promised to look into the issue.

An East Sussex County Council spokesman said: “The drains in this area of Rye outfall into the nearby river, which means at times of high tide they can suffer from water backing up into the system.

“We’re not aware of any recent complaints from residents about flooding in this area, however, we will look into this to see if anything can be done to reduce the risk of this happening in future.”

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