Residents in Dalton cul-de-sac say now have to clean their own drains as they are worried about flash flooding and describe blocked drains as “absolutely disgusting.”
People living on Hallas Grove, Huddersfield, have raised concerns that clogged drainage systems could leave the street vulnerable when heavy rain follows periods of hot weather.
The street previously made headlines in 2015 when residents described it as one of Huddersfield’s “most neglected” roads, claiming it had been left to deteriorate for years. At its worst, the 80-metre-long street reportedly had one or more ankle-deep potholes every two metres and residents even threatened to stop paying their council tax.
When the road was restored to its full glory in 2016, residents were overjoyed – but now, problems with drainage have left homeowners “worried” once again.
Residents Sandra and Brian, who have lived on the street for several years, said they have occasionally taken matters into their own hands by clearing the drain outside their home themselves. Brian said: “It’s absolutely disgusting. We try to clean it ourselves once a year, but it still gets full.”
He said recent hot weather had heightened concerns about flooding, with intense downpours often following heatwaves. “We have had a heatwave, so when the rain comes, it can’t drain and runs down our street, further down the hill, flooding it out,” he said.
The concerns come as experts continue to warn that extreme weather events, including sudden heavy rainfall, are becoming more common during warmer periods.
Kirklees Council said it was aware of the issues and that work is planned to address the problem. David Shepherd, Executive Director for Place, said: “We are aware of the drainage issues on Hallas Grove and Greenhead Lane in Almondbury and understand the concerns residents have raised. Our teams will be visiting the area over the coming weeks to clear blocked drains and assess whether any further work is needed.”
“We regularly inspect and maintain drains and gullies across Kirklees and continue to work with the Environment Agency in areas at risk of flooding. If residents notice a blocked drain or gully, we encourage them to report it through our website so it can be inspected and, where necessary, added to our work programme.”
Residents now hope the planned works will prevent flooding and ensure drainage systems can cope with heavy rainfall during the summer months.
