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MP Gerald Howarth has called for action
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Investigation launched into flood junction

By Nick Edmondson
November 13, 2012

ACTION is required to stop persistent flooding at the bottom of one of Aldershot’s busiest roads, claims MP Sir Gerald Howarth.

Sir Gerald has called on Thames Water to take action to stop the area at the junction of Ash Road and Lower Farnham Road from repeatedly being submerged.

Last weekend saw patches of the road become significantly waterlogged, leading to complaints from businesses and nearby residents.

Sir Gerald said: “This is one of those problems that has simply gone on too long.

“When we have heavy rain in Aldershot it seems to all drain to this point, which is a busy area of road.

“Something needs to be done regarding the waste water flooding as it is dangerous and could have a real impact on traders in the area.”

Sir Gerald said his constit-uents had also voiced their frustration that their waste water bills will be increased in order to pay for the Thames Tideway Tunnel scheme, a new sewer which aims to improve the capacity of the sewerage system in London.

He said: “There is an understandable frustration that my constituents feel they are being made to pay for something that will not affect them in the slightest, while they are seeing a recurring problem such as this one not getting sorted.”

A spokesman for Thames Water said they had received the correspondence and added they would be looking in to the issue.

The spokesman added: “We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused by this.

“We have received Sir Gerald Howarth’s letter and will be carrying out an investigation of the waste water network in the Ash Road and Lower Farnham areas.”

Responding to Sir Gerald’s Thames Tideway complaint, the spokesman said: “In the same way that customers outside the capital, such as your constituents, pay for improvements in London, those living in London also pay for investment outside the city.

“We deliver projects benefiting towns, villages and hamlets throughout the Thames Valley, often at a cost of several millions of pounds for infrastructure serving tens of thousands of people.

“Customers outside London are benefiting, and will continue to benefit from the fact that the costs of serving the Thames Water region are spread over a very large number of customers, including all those in the capital.

“Bills are significantly higher in the more rural areas served by neighbouring water and sewerage companies where customers do not see the benefit of costs being spread across a larger population.”

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Most recent user comments 5 of 5

also like to add when the council grass cutters come round and cut the grass they don't clear the cuttings they blow it all over the road, and in to the gutters of the road, this doesn't help the rain running into drains either, this maybe another reason for all the surface water in lower farnham road and morland road and other roads iin the area of rushmoor, if when they cut the grass and remove the grass cuttings and take to where they take the garden waste to rot down to compost then maybe this would also help the road.

Its funny how the water board allways seem to get the blame when other factors maybe also to blame?.

PJA
14/11/2012 at 13:09

Many thanks for your comment on the story BlisteringBarnacles!

However I must inform you that Sir Gerald Howarth's knighthood was approved by the Queen on September 20.

Following the approval he has adopted the title of 'Sir'. www.number10.gov.uk/news/knighthood-gerald-howarth/

Thanks again for your feedback to the site.

Nickedmo
14/11/2012 at 10:12

it also floods in morland road, their doesn't seem to be may drains in our road, when they last did the road they seemed to cover them up, and when it rains the water goes over grass verge over the path and into gardens. not all is down to drains it is also down to cars and vans parked on grass verges and putting strain on the ground which lowers through weight of vehicles driving on grass verges, including those who work for wessex housing and for delivery companies also. surely this isn't good for the ground and the pipes under the ground. but we certainly know this is another reason why morland road floods. And most probably happerns on other roads around the borough.

PJA
14/11/2012 at 07:43

Mr Howarth's knighthood has not yet even been confirmed, he was merely recommended by the Prime Minister and we shall have to wait until the next Queen's honours list (New Year?).

Until then, please refrain from referring to him as "Sir Gerald" because, for now at least, he is no better than the rest of us.

You pride yourselves on accuracy at this paper, so please keep it up!

BlisteringBarnacles! , Sheffield / Farnborough
14/11/2012 at 00:14

It is right that, this time Thames Water, is told to take its finger out of the dam as it were and get drainage working properly.

However road works at the junction will cause chaos as the diversion following the closure of Ash Road will continue for many months.

This problem put the residents of Aldershot between a rock and a wet place.

As usual, utilities show a lack of care, planning and general awareness about the problems they cause to their paymasters i.e. us.

Do the countless utility vehicles drive around with their eyes closed and not take any pre-emptive action?

No, they wait until there is a very obvious problem, ignore it until their attention is drawn forcefully to the leak or potential problem.

We had a fast flowing stream running down the road on Saturday night caused by a water leak.

Reported very soon after discovery - stopped some 70 hours later. What non-service by a very wasteful SEW.