Forum for residents of St Georges Park and Long Leys Road Lincoln

[deb]

If DW Homes are not taking responsibility (counted as 'freak' weather) is this for both homes within and without the two year period? I would suggest approaching NHBC and see what they say re. builders' responsibility.

[john shipton]

Deb:

The NHBC will only deal with buildings. This was tested a few years ago over faults to one house on Westleys Croft. They were asked to intervene because Westbury Homes said that the property in question was only guaranteed for two years and despite the wrangle of arguing to and fro with correspondence, Westbury would not rectify the situation and refused to buge by taking remedial action.
The same will apply to David Wilson Homes (before that Henry Boot) and Persimmons (before that Westbury Homes).
Now with drainage and the pipe gauge used for St Georges Park, it appears that DW has met building regulations on the system they have put in.
For them to come up with an excuse of freak weather, beggars belief, for such weather will become the norm due to global warming which even the government and local authorites have recognised.
Surely Lincolnshire County Council cannot accept this problem of flooding which will occur everytime there is a storm or heavy rainfall? Surely Anglian Water cannot condone what DW are saying too? And surely this major problem will have to be rectified before St Georges Park is finally adopted?
Lincoln City Council, Lincolnshire County Council, Anglian Water and both developers responsible knew about the flood issue because when it was St Georges Hospital, there was indaequate drainage in place to cope with heavy rain. A retired nurse who worked at the hospital years gone by confirmed this at the recent general LLRA meeting when she said that water used to run down the hospital's main corridor.
Residents are seeing this again with the drainage system on St Georges Park.
From what has been said and relayed so far, not much can be done to get DW to do anything about this. So it appears that developers in Lincoln can build their housing estates, leave after completion and only complete the bare minimum what is allowed or agreed at planning level.
When it comes to serious issues such as flooding and a very poor drainage system, they just do not want to know or turn a blind eye. And both councils say that it is not their problem too.
So my question is...who is responisble and who is accountable for St Georges Park?
All that residents are getting is excuses and excuses at authority level. In other words...passing the buck!
Now what will happen to the E2V site off Carholme Road whereby part of the land is considered as a flood plain and is being considered to be sold off for a development of 269 houses?
What will happen to Swanpool, whereby this well known flood plain is subject to a proposed large housing estate which Taylor Woodrow and the previous Labour administration of City Council wanted to build 4550 houses on, and still do?
If these two projects are given the go ahead, will they too have just the bare minimum of pipe gauge and drainage systems which St Georges Park has been subjected to?
The mind boggles on what is allowed, delivered and built subject to planning regulations.
What is being ignored is flooding and what happens next.
Hopefully, residents on St Georges Park and the LLRA will counter act this as this is leading to the sublime to the ridiculous!
Any more thoughts and what action to take next to get things done?

John, penning a few more thoughts.

[deb]

It is freak weather even if it becomes more regular. The news shows that. When did you last see whole villages being evacuated, people on their rooves in this country? The quote is: The Environment Agency labelled current weather conditions "phenomenal". The agency's flood expert, Phil Rothwell, said: "We've had a sixth of the annual rainfall in 12 hours.

I don't know who takes responsibility for flooding - has anyone in the UV had their house flooded? Who are they speaking to apart from the insurance company? Do we know definitely that it's NOT the builders responsibility? Do we know definitely that NHBC won't get involved. I'd say we need that in writing before we progress to the next possible body but who will that be?

Just for interest, this from a friend today:

"Around the Shuttleworth flats and under the railway bridge on the north side is still well under water, the river is 6 inches from the top back and front of the Anglian Water building but the Environment Agency are getting the water flowing out to the sea Boston way and also letting some flood out onto the flood plains en route.The Emergency Services were evacuating people from Shuttleworth flats and surrounding properties who have now been flooded. Slightly over at the Brayford and being pumped, paths under Wigford Way from High St to Brayford are flooded and closed. A number of bodies get involved- EA for general environment, AW for sewers, Highways for drains, DEFRA and so on and so forth. There seems to be a certain amount of co-ordination between them all including the police and other emergency services at present as virtually classed as a major incident for Emergency measures."

[iggy]

i having been talking to a senior employee of DWhomes and have been told by him they are talking to lincoln cc to get an agreement to let them dig another drain from the steps to the other end of the site [albion end]and pipe it in to the head of the drain at the top of manrico drive lets hope this sortes out the run off water once and for all. all i would say look out at the bottom

[deb]

Something in the Echo yesterday had a woman being referred to Anglian Water who referred her to the council who referred her back. Responsibility seems a difficult thing but as this weather happens more and more I'm sure they'll sort themselves out better because of the finances!

Meanwhile, at the top of Manrico Drive a new drain is going in as we speak. One of the men told me it was only happening so quick because 'that house there has a big wig from DW homes living in it'. Nice to know they live in their own houses and if it helps those affected by the water then that's a good thing. When it's done we need some heavy rain to test it...!

[john shipton]

Deb:

The rain may be easing for the rest of the week but the forcast is for more rain to come.
Brant Road south of Lincoln has been badly affected. So is Shuttleworth House at Stamp End which is east of Lincoln.
The Brayford Pool overflowed and by the navigational canal adjacent to the West End of Lincoln ,the roads and footpaths experienced flooding too. Houses there were issued with sandbags which helped the water flow from going into households.
Now with St Georges Park which is practically a brand new housing estate/urban village, the developers should have got is right with their drainage system from the beginning. Hopefully, all those in authority involved, are taking the appropriate action get the drainage system right.
I don't think that they have any other option.
So it takes someone in management working for DW living at the top end of St Georges to put remedial work into action. What would have happened
if he had not lived there? For his house appears to been affected by the recent heavy rainfalls. But with other housholds, are they expendable?
It makes you wonder what goes on in senior management and their decisions!
Goes to show that without People Power, the situation would have taken months on end, with correspondence going to and fro, for a satisfactory remedy over the drainage system that was imputed by the developers.
To Deborah and to all residents...keep up the good work and keep the pressure on in getting things done for our Urban Village.

[squeak]

Just heard from the met office today that there is a very high risk of localised heavy rainfall in Lincolnshire on Friday and Sunday this week so unfortunately more disruption likely for those whose homes suffered earlier this week

[James]

Evening,

I’m intrigued to know if our resident David Wilson ‘Big Wig’ is an active member on the forum?

[john shipton]

This is interesting news of how the drainage system has been treated for many years in Lincoln.
A Pumping Station is sited on Carholme Road, opposite the Horse and Groom Pub near the bridge that goes over the Brayford.
This building was built a few years ago to deal with the water problems in and around the surrounding area.
The piping was found out this week that the bore and gaunge of the pipe work installed only met the bare minimum building regulations. Residents have seen similar to what happened over the drainage system installed on St Georges Park...subject to minimal building regs.
Because of the flooding in and around the Brayford Pool, the bottom end near to the navigational canal and the West End, it appeared that the Pumping Station could not cope.
After an investigation, contractors were called in which was believed to be Anglian Water. A large crane with a telescopic arm stood by for work to be carried out.
For most of yesterday (27th June), new pipe work was seen being installed. Something that would deal with large amounts of surface water and possibly sewage. The crane was employed to deal with the heavy lifting work.
It appears that this morning (28th June) the Pumping Station is back working normally as no one is onsite and the entrance gates are locked.
I sincerely hope so as more heavy rain is due this weekend!
This was relayed to me from WERA and office workers working nearby.

[iggy]

6.00am water flooding down again of hillside flooding gardens and causing top soil to be washed away
930am 3 manhole lids blown again 2 surface water and 1 foul water this must be stopped as it will become a health problem to all arround the bottom of carrim
if any body from city hall reads this. this problem is not good enough and must be sorted asap

[john shipton]

On my way to the Waddington Air Show Sunday morning (1st July), about 7.30am, surface water was coming out in a deluge from the pipe placed beneath the ground on Liquorice Park, Yarborough Road. This water found its way into the drainage system on this road.
It was pouring out from the pipe.
This must have been due to heavy rain that Lincoln experienced in the early hours of the morning.
There was seen some flooding on Long Leys Road too in leaving Westleys Croft and going up this road, water was coming down like small rivers on both sides of the road from the top end. I stayed in the middle of the road due to this. Good job there was not much traffic around on my journey.
The Air Show was cancelled about 9am after being on the airfield from 8am. The main reason was that the runway and much of the airfield was waterlogged. One could see huge puddles of water everywhere especially on the sodden grass.
The fire brigade was there trying to pump the water away. They were on standby too because there was a fear that along the River Witham, in some areas, the banks would burst.
The Met Office based at RAF Waddington, issued a warning that a front was coming in from the south and heavy rain was due around 10am.
Airshow FM, the radio station set up for the Airshow, was constantly giving out weather bullitins.
I tuned in to this radio station before leaving my house and was assured that after 10am sunny weather would prevail with a few showers in the afternoon. Flying would start around 11am.
This did not happen.
About 8.30am, an official announcement was given warning that heavy rain was due about 11 am and no flying would start until the rain and water on the runway had cleared.
Then at 9am another announcement was heard over the loud speaker system stating that the Airshow was cancelled and the airfield was still having major problems with surface water; also that many of the toilets
had ceased to function.
The first to be instructed to leave RAF Waddington were visitors using the car parks. This they did.
Then all those having trade stands were told to cease trading, pack up and wait for instructions when to leave. This they did later.
My son and I were two of the few last leaving the site. Before doing so, we talked to BBC Look North and Channel 7 who were interviewing the station commanding officer for RAF Waddington, called Group Captain Andy Fryer, about the cancellation of this Airshow.
I spoke to him afterwards resulting in good rapport because he nows know about the Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre in depth and supports our aims and views. He has become a good contact for future help and reference.
A photographer for RAF News was about all morning taking photos of the situation. He took several of me in my flying suit and leather jacket with my hands held high looking towards the heavenlies, standing on a large board which had been placed upon a large pool of water which was the only way to get to and fro from certain certain aviation stands. The ground surrounding these stands was soaking wet and in some areas waterlogged and muddy.
It was eirie when we left at 11.30am. Very few people were walking around. It was like a ghost town.
This was the first time that an airshow of this calibre had been cancelled. Many folk thought it was due to the combination of the extreme wet weather and the weekend terrorist alert throughout the UK whereby airports and RAF bases (all armed forces) have been put on "Critical Alert"...the highest category on the government list.
But the rain never arrived during the morning. It was bright and sunny and the runway was clear of water when we departed.
This was looking odd and on our way back home was just a formality...no traffic problems!
But motorists were still trying to head for RAF Waddington only to be turned away at the main entrances by RAF personnel and police officers.
The heavy rain did come and lasted ten minutes from 2 pm in the afternoon. The rest of the day was bright and sunny.
Long Leys Road was flooded once again in certain places for that short period of time.
So Ian, what you have shared is correct. The drainage system on St Georges Park needs to be sorted. No ifs or buts. The estate is brand new and every authority involved have a duty to put things right.
Only the residents working together can do this putting pressure on the authorites and the appropriate officers to include all four of the local councillors who represent Carholme Ward and ourselves.
The drainage problem cannot be flushed away!

[john shipton]

This is interesting to what happened in the West End of Lincoln last week when flooding took place near the adjacent Navigational Canal.
The outlay pipes built within the wall separating the canal from the streets, failed to work due to poor maintenance by who ever was responsible. WERA think it is Anglian Water. The coverings which open by flexible hinges had rusted up. These are on the canal side.
So when heavy rain hit the West End, the surface water back tracked into the streets causing flooding.
Residents telephoned Lincoln City Council for sandbags. They do not provide them for private householders and only gave them out to those in council houses/apartments/flats (council rented accommodation). Private householders had to ring Anglian Water. They were unable to get through and some householders were kept on the telephone number given (an 0845 number), for hours on end.
No one took responsibilty for this dividing wall.
The wall had weakened in some places and mortor between the brickwork was crumbling. This wall had been built many years ago and not been maintained for sometime.
Anglian Water were forced to get large containers of sand from builders yards in and around Lincoln to give support to the wall.
The wall survived this time with the deluge that hit the city of Lincoln resulting in the high levels of water in the canal and flooding on the streets.
Next time Lincoln experiences heavy rainfall and a severe storm, this wall may not be so lucky and could collapse if not seen to and strengthened.
For it appears that Mother Nature may take revenge or show that she should not be taken for granted.
Now with St Georges Park and the inadequate drainage system...stand by for action for anything could happen in the next half hour, including more heavy rain on its way!

[deb]

During the latest downpour when the footpath once again became a running stream, the joining up of the drains begun. The fence panels have been ripped out - no saving them - and the caterpillar digger is in there. My front garden was getting washed out but with some ingenuity and help from Iggy in the dry spell last week my flood defences have proved themselves to be working nicely! This man should be up for 'Good Neighbour of the Year' award for his help over the past weeks of incredible weather for not only me but at least half a dozen other folk who had more to lose than a few waterlogged plants.

[john shipton]

Deb:

Now that is what I call working together and helping each other rather than turning a blind eye, giving the impression by some, that it is no concern of theirs attitude.
Those residents who were flooded out in villages like Bentley, in and around the city of Sheffield and other parts of Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire, pulled together to help one another.
This showed and gave an example of people who cared and put words into action despite losing a lot.
Hopefully, residents living on the Long Leys Road area will pull together and help one another in taking on board the needs of the Urban Village and the facilities to sustain it as such which was laid down in the Lincoln Plan. Also the problems of flooding caused by an inadequate drainage system which needs to be looked at, and or replacing.
It has become a known fact that this problem will remain until people wake up and get involved and let authorities know that it is not good enough to ignore the situation; where some folk have the mentality that it does not concern them and that one day the problem will fade or go away.
Global warming is here to stay and is affecting people and countries all over the world.
But to those in their 4 by 4s and high performance cars, driving up to the traffic lights over 30 mph this afternoon during the heavy shower, who thought nothing about soaking folk walking on the footpath (including myself who was delivering the LLRA leaflet of the July events), by splashing into the large puddles and the river that occured going downwards towards Travis Perkins, please note this...are you that selfish and unconsiderate?
Some of these cars were recognised and the motorists come from our area.
Are these the ones that don't care about anyone else but themselves? It appears so when it comes to the community spirit!

John, just expressing some more thoughts whilst freedom of speech prevails.

[iggy]

on friday the water was running of the hillside again but was filltering through a pile of limestone the builders have at the top of manrico. this resulted in a lot of stone dust washing into the drainage system as i drove out of the bottom of the road onto long leys road yes just as usual the drains could not cope and water was pouring out the lids again the storm water system was discharging water and lime stone dust well at least we know it works . but the worry was the foul system was putting out raw waste again /paper [ still to on the road ] and also LIME STONE DUST
this should not happen and must be sorted out as it is going to happen each time it rains and is a health risk to all