Cleared to work on dyke

A scheme to clear out parts of Southwell’s Potwell Dyke is being planned after Nottinghamshire County Council agreed to do the work.

Homes in nearby Harvey’s Field were flooded when the dyke burst its banks last summer and added to surface water in other areas of the town.

Blockages in the dyke were blamed for the flooding but it has taken until now to carry out a full assessment of the work needed because of issues over land ownership.

The county councillor for Southwell, Mr Bruce Laughton, said the county council would take a lead on the work as it owned most of the land through which the dyke ran.

Officers from the county council met others from Newark and Sherwood District Council at the dyke.

Also there were Mr Laughton, town councillor Mr Brendan Haigh and nearby residents.

After walking along the dyke they noted that it had flooded again after last week’s heavy rain, although homes had not been affected.

Mr Laughton said they found litter and debris blocking areas of the dyke.

“The main causes of the flooding in the summer were back in place again,” he said.

The county council will work to clear the dyke in partnership with the district council, which has the statutory responsibility of ensuring watercourses are maintained.

Mr Laughton said he had told the district council’s emergency planning team to issue an enforcement order against the county council if it failed to carry out the work.

Concern has been raised over blocked drains, which also contributed to the summer flooding.

Mr Haigh told a meeting of the town council last week that a number of drains which had been cleared after the flooding had been filled again by fallen leaves.

“There is a lack of routine maintenance,” he said.