Call for improvements following Newport and Clavering floods

Cllr Neil Hargreaves, ward councillor for Newport on Uttlesford District Council, criticised Essex County Council's Wicken Fen Bridge, which he described as a "folly".

He said: "ECC claimed their new £1m folly in Newport would reduce flooding.

"The day after it opened we had a thunderstorm. There was no problem on any other road in Newport but because the drainage on the new bridge is inadequate, it flooded.

Flooding at the reconstructed Wicken Fen Bridge in Newport (Image: Cllr Neil Hargreaves) "Their own report on the 40-year-old double box reinforced concrete bridge over Wicken Water stated that it was in 100 per cent perfect condition.

"But despite requests from the parish council and the district council to think again, Essex carried on wasting taxpayer cash to replace the School Lane bridge, stripping out mature trees, urbanising the Conservation Area and causing months of chaos.   

"To add insult Essex have it confused with the nature reserve in Cambridgeshire, naming it variously Wicken Fen Bridge, Wicken Fenn Bridge and Wick Fen Bridge."

Fellow Newport councillor Judy Emanuel has written to the county council asking them to resolve the design issue.

The bridge was reconstructed to make it stronger earlier this year - a plan branded as "unnecessary" by Cllr Hargreaves at the time.

A spokesperson for Essex Highways said: "There is a history of flooding in this area.

"The recent flooding on Wicken Fen Bridge was a flash flood caused by surface water that quickly cleared away into the river, helped by additional drainage pipes and gullies we installed as part of the new bridge scheme.

"We have arranged for gullies in School Lane to be cleared to reduce the chances of the area flooding in future."

Meanwhile in Clavering, resident Melody Carter photographed a car swept away by the river, which she said was the "fourth or fifth" similar incident in the last couple of years.

She said: "The river floods every time we now have heavy rain. 

"As far as my enquiries go, none of the authorities are prepared to do anything about it.  The Environment Agency has to do a full assessment of the whole river system before agreeing to dredge the river and Essex County Highway say it is not their responsibility to put up proper signage saying that the road is liable to flood.

"So far a real tragedy has been avoided but sooner or later there is the distinct possibility that someone may lose their life."

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An Essex Highways spokesperson said: “Our emergency crew attended Clavering on Wednesday, October 2, and put out flood boards following reports of watercourse flooding affecting the area.

"We would always urge drivers to exercise caution following persistent heavy rain, such as we’ve seen recently.

"We have arranged for the gullies near Middle Street, Clavering, to be jet cleaned to try and prevent flooding issues in the area."

Residents can report drainage issues or flooding through the online Tell Us tool at www.essexhighways.org/tell-us.