Questions raised over Lancaster's drains after flash flooding

Many roads struggled to cope on Monday after heavy downpours caused flood water to build up earlier this week (Monday June 13).
A car being swept away on Torrisholme Road, Lancaster. Picture by Mark Richardson.A car being swept away on Torrisholme Road, Lancaster. Picture by Mark Richardson.
A car being swept away on Torrisholme Road, Lancaster. Picture by Mark Richardson.

Parts of Torrisholme Road, Owen Road and Morecambe Road were closed, leaving motorists at a standstill.

Torrisholme Road, underneath the railway bridge, was closed for a number of hours after being submerged in four feet of water. Traffic lights were off outside Aldi supermarket on Morecambe Road and water cascaded outside Our Lady’s Catholic College.

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Fire crews were also called to Church Street in Lancaster on Monday at around 10.55am after Nice and Spicy takeaway was partly flooded. Crews were there for ten minutes pumping water out of the takeaway and shortly after Lancashire County Council arrived to aid the business.

Photo Neil Cross
Flash flooding under  the railway bridge at Torrisholme Road, LancasterPhoto Neil Cross
Flash flooding under  the railway bridge at Torrisholme Road, Lancaster
Photo Neil Cross Flash flooding under the railway bridge at Torrisholme Road, Lancaster

Fears were expressed that the surge of rain could be all too similar to the severe floods Lancaster suffered with in December after Storm Desmond struck.

Jess Ordoñez commented on Faecbook: “not again.” Fiona Webb said: “Oh dear, hope it doesn’t get too bad this time guys!”

Vanessa Singleton said: “I wondered if Church Street had been flooded again when I saw all the sand bags.”

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Other social media users have questioned why flooding is reoccurring, with some saying money spent on drains is a “waste of cash.”

Photo Neil Cross
Flash flooding under  the railway bridge at Torrisholme Road, LancasterPhoto Neil Cross
Flash flooding under  the railway bridge at Torrisholme Road, Lancaster
Photo Neil Cross Flash flooding under the railway bridge at Torrisholme Road, Lancaster

OtherS complained Torrisholme Road was left in a bad state once it reopened.

Kelly Sharp said: “It is thick with sludge and stinks of sewerage, just had to bleach pram wheels.” The road was later cleaned.

Lancashire County Council said all drains were clear and working. A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: “The reason Torrisholme Road flooded this week is because the large amount of rain which fell during the intense but short-lived storm overwhelmed the capacity of the drainage system.

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“Following the storm, our gully wagon attended sites to clear the flood and check the highway drains were clear and working. These drains are among those in vulnerable locations that we clean as a higher priority.

“The occasional flooding at this location does result in some temporary disruption when the road has to be closed, and is one of many issues which were highlighted for investigation following the winter storms, however we are prioritising city centre issues.”

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