Anger as Great Central Way flooding continues

Buy photos » Water diverted from the David Wilson Homes Oaklands development ends up flooding the Great Central Way, causing a headache for walkers, runners and cyclists. Pictures courtesy of Peter Realf. (s)

A BUILDING firm has been accused of anti-social behaviour after flooding the Great Central Way.

Part of the path, regularly used by walkers, runners and cyclists, is usually submerged beneath several inches of water diverted from the David Wilson Homes development at Oaklands in Coton Park.

The problem started in the summer after builders dug a trench for rainwater to run down from the construction site to the Great Central Way at the bottom.

Under pressure from the borough council they built a holding lake to stop the flooding, but because of the recent heavy rain this started to overflow and had to be destroyed, meaning the water ran down and onto the path.

Peter Realf, a photographer who lives nearby and walks his son's dog there, said he and others could not believe it - especially after he spotted workers pumping water into the trench and onto to the Great Central Way on one occasion.

He said: "Despite requests to the builders by myself, other walkers and councillors, the builders keep allowing vast quantities of water to drain onto the public footpath.

"It's just crazy and it is really annoying for those of us who use the Great Central Way."

It is not the first problem caused by a David Wilson development at Coton Park. A few months ago, blocked drains at the newly built Langlands Place site caused a sewage leak.

But the problem was only addressed when Mr Realf told Severn Trent, who had not been contacted by the builders at any point.

The drains have since been unblocked, but people have complained of a lingering bad smell left by the sewage.

Justin Szopa, technical director at David Wilson Homes, said: "We are aware of some flooding to Great Central Walk which has been due to the recent prolonged periods of heavy rainfall.

"This is an historic problem due to off-site ditches that served the field having been infilled.

"We have been working to put into place measures that will minimise disruption including a temporary land drainage outfall as well as further reinforcement to the lagoon. These works will be effected immediately."

Mr Szopa added they were hoping to build a more effective drainage system along the Great Central Way so that water levels there can be better managed in the future.

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