Rose Green road flooded for second time and nothing's done

Residents in Rose Green have been told to get used to having their cul-de-sac flooded.

Last week's heavy rainfall left Edwen Close under water for the second time in two weeks.

It was the third occasion in the past ten months a small lake about 100ft long and at least 1ft deep had left them virtual prisoners in their bungalows.

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One of those affected, Mel Harrison, said they had dubbed the area 'Venice' because of the extent of the flooding which no one seemed willing to solve.

"It is very annoying. The water stretches along five bungalows on the opposite side of the road and three on my side," said Mr Harrison (63).

"It has been like this every time we have had heavy rain since I moved into Edwen Close last March. It lasts for about two days each time.

"People can't get out of their bungalows because there is so much water. The flooding stretches across the entire road and both pavements and into peoples' front gardens.

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"It is so deep you can't see the dips in the road or the kerbs and it is so easy to fall flat on your face.

"I watch my elderly neighbours struggling to get through the water.

"Many of them are afraid to go out.

"The only safe way by walking is to go across the front gardens.

"But that's not really possible because, although many of them are open plan, some people have planted hedges and bushes.

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"It doesn't even do your car any good if you drive through because the water is deep enough to come up to the door jambs."

Mr Harrison claimed one of his neighbours had been told by the county council it knew the drain gulleys in Edwen Close were broken but it didn't have the money to fix them.

"What are we paying all our council tax for?" he asked.

"It's all very well prettying up Bognor to attract people to come here but spending money on those who live here should surely come first."

A West Sussex County Council spokeswoman denied a lack of cash was the problem.

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"Unfortunately, this is a long-term issue, with no easy solution," she said.

"The drainage system for this road relies on soakaways and, at the present time, this area of the county is waterlogged as a result of the amount of rain we have recently had.

"This means there is nowhere for the excess water to go.

"Until the underground water table level drops, the flooding will unfortunately remain.

"The county council will continue to monitor the situation, and if, in the future, a solution presents itself, improvements to the drainage system will be carried out."

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