300 YEARS LIFECYCLE FOR PIPES AND GULLIES!

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 19th Feb 2008

Continuous under investment in repairs replacement, and clearance of blocked drains

Extensive flooding on Kent's roads. Why, because drains are deteriorating due to continuous under investment in repairs replacement, and clearance of blocked drains.

At the County Council meeting on Tuesday 19th February Martin Vye, Liberal Democrat Member for Canterbury City South West, asked the Conservative Administration about the money they intend to put into repairing and replacing Highways drains.

Martin said "Last Summer we were spared the river flooding that plagues some areas of England. What Kent suffered however, was extensive flooding on our roads because highway drains were not adequate to cope with the downpours we experienced".

Two years ago Kent Highways engineers calculated that £12 million needed to be spend on road drains per year to keep up with ongoing deterioration and to reduce the backlog. In fact, at the time under £2 million was being invested. This meant a lifecycle for pipes and gullies of over 300 years!

Martin added "I had hoped this would be a wake-up call to the Administration. In fact in 2007/08 they again only put in £1.92 million! They still weren't able to tell me how much they will put into repairing and replacing drains next year. I just hope that for all our sakes, especially our children's - they will make a serious effort to invest enough to reduce and then eliminate the serious risk of flooding on our roads. "

Details of the full question and answer are available on the Kent Lib Dems website ' County Council Questions' page.

Related Link:

County Council Questions.