14/10/2024
Flooding in Fairacre as water began to recede (Photo: Ashley Stuart)
Frustrated residents of a flood-hit housing estate in Boyn Hill have called for action to fix a problem pool of water they fear will get worse.
Frustrated residents of a flood-hit road in Boyn Hill have called for action to fix a problem pool of water they fear will get worse.
Water sprung up around the car parking area in Fairacre during heavy rainfall in September, described as Maidenhead’s wettest month for more than 150 years.
Disruption caused by the pool - which has since receded - saw a bin collection missed and residents have to wade through inches of rainwater to reach their stranded cars.
Fairacre resident Ashley Stuart said: “It’s frustrating because it's getting worse and worse year on year.
“You expect - paying your council tax - to be able to get to your car without taking your shoes and socks off.”
Ashley believes the flooding problems trace back to a soakaway which has become clogged with dirt and leaves – and is the council’s responsibility to fix.
A soakaway is an underground drainage reservoir filled with rocks and designed to let water slowly drain into the ground.
Drains by the flooded carpark are linked to a soakaway beneath grass on the Fairacre green.
Ashley said: “It's forecasted we’re going to have another wet winter this year, and we’re going to have another winter of a flooded road unless they [RBWM] do something about it.”
The Advertiser has been contacted by other residents who said the flooding problem was becoming worse.
Thames Water said it carried out an inspection of Fairacre last month and found drainage gulleys - which would be the responsibility of highways and council authorities - were blocked.
Boyn Hill councillor George Shaw (Lib Dem) said more investigation into the condition of the Fairacre soakaway was needed before discussion over timelines for a solution could start.
He said he believed it was the council’s responsibility to fix issues with the soakaway but said he still had to confirm this with council officers.
Floodwater began to creep up residents' garden paths and towards their homes.
Cllr Shaw added: “My hope is that it’s effectively a case of the soakaway’s been filled with silt and it's something we can relatively easily pump out and get cleaned - without effectively a big infrastructure project of rebuilding.
“If it requires proper repair - re-concreting or something like that – that’s a big job which takes time and funding that’s very difficult to get hold of in the current financial state we find ourselves in.
“At the moment - until I know what the state of affairs are there [with the soakaway] - I can’t really comment on how likely it is to get a fix quickly.”
Cllr Shaw said he hoped to have a meeting with the council’s flood manager to discuss potential the Fairacre flooding.
But residents could face a wait on any drainage works.
The council is grappling with several flood-prone areas in Boyn Hill, including Norden Road beneath the train lines and Kennedy Close where flooding damaged properties last month.
An RBWM spokesperson said: “We are working to determine the cause of flooding in many areas across Maidenhead following very heavy rainfall.
“This includes identifying whether this is related to blockages, and which authorities are responsible for removing the obstructions, or if this was caused by the extreme rainfall exceeding the capacity of the drainage system.”
Residents can report flooding problems through the council website.
Photo: Stephanie Foulds