Thorpe Hall Avenue residents say 'enough is enough' over flooding

Thorpe Hall Avenue has been repeatedly hit by flooding during heavy rain in recent years and residents once again faced a road closure yesterday as the street was shut off at the junction with the Woodgrange roundabout.

Frank Turvey, 80, said he fears it will take a “disaster” before serious action is taken as people placed sandbags outside their homes in a bid to prevent the water spreading to properties. 

Concerned - Frank is worried the bridge will be damaged by the flooding (Image: Michael Robinson)

Yesterday’s issues, which saw Anglian Water close the road to drain surface water, comes weeks after the water firm revealed plans for a £350,000 water tank to combat the issue.

Mr Turvey said: “Residents are trying to fight the water on the road with sandbags. What’s it going to be like this winter? I have never known the floods this bad, it makes you worry about the bridge wall.

“What will it take, a major disaster? I would like a proper investigation by the water board and the council to find and solve the problem.” 

(Image: Jenny Turvey)

Andrew Hall, Thorpe Bay Residents Association committee member, fears the new water tank will not fix the root cause of the problem.

He said: “This isn’t a case of one fix, putting in water tanks, again, that is a temporary measure. We are putting plasters on the issue and we need to be talking to central government for funding and guidance.

“We don’t have to attack the water companies, we have their attention and we need to work with them on how best we get this resolved. No one can wave a wand and fix it, the situation has improved after last year but you are putting a plaster on an arterial bleed.” Road closed - The road was closed this afternoon after the flooding (Image: Michael Robinson)

Another resident, Helen Masters, 56, added: “It’s a nightmare, people have to put sandbags out to deal with the floods. When it’s the school run or rush hour, it can take really long to get anywhere. Enough is enough.” 

Aftermath - Thorpe Hall Avenue after the flooding (Image: Michael Robinson)

Lydia Hyde, Southend councillor for climate environment and waste, said she had worked extensively with Anglian Water and the Environment Agency since becoming the portfolio holder to tackle the area’s flooding issue.

She said: “It was unacceptable to me to see residents putting out sandbags to protect themselves in Thorpe Hall Avenue, so earlier this year I held a focus meeting with Anglian Water and our engineers to ensure we finalise a solution for the flooding, get the investment, and prioritise getting the works done as soon as possible.”

“I understand that plans and designs for the storage tank are being finalised with Anglian Water, with a view to getting this important addition completed in early 2025.”

An Anglian Water spokesman said: “Intense rainfall can cause standing water to build up, especially on hard surfaces because there’s nowhere for it to go, and this causes surface water flooding. 

“It’s a bit like a bath plughole, and it takes time for the water to drain away.

“Our teams are working hard across the region to ensure our sewer network is running as it should and can take this surface water away as quickly as possible.

“Responsibility for flooding and drainage requires response from many different organisations, businesses, and landowners, and it will take a combined response from all involved to put together a plan to address the issue in the long term.”