'We said this would happen': anger over Goosnargh flooding close to new estate

The road in the vicinity of the site at the junction of Cumeragh Lane and Camforth Hall Lane was caked in muddy water earlier this week after locals claim it was pumped off the plot by constructors.

The developer later told them that the intention had been to pump the water from one part of the site to another - and not out onto the street.

However, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has been told that Monday’s incident was not the first to have occurred since preparatory work for the 24-bungalow estate began earlier this year.

A resident who lives nearby - and whose driveway was also flooded when water gushed out of the site - says the problem comes as no surprise to longstanding locals.

“I have been here nearly 50 years and this has always been what you would call a ‘wet field’.

“Since the building work started, it has been horrendous - because when water does come out onto the road, it’s so muddy and leaves deposits everywhere.

“If it’s like this before the homes have been built, what will it be like afterwards? Because what was a field that could absorb some of this water will then be covered in concrete - so where will it all go?” asked the resident, who did not want to be named.

Whittingham parish councillor Michelle Woodburn says the situation has been met with equal consternation by others living in the area.

“This silted, dirty water was all over the road, going into the drains and down someone's driveway - it’s just not acceptable.

“Eventually, it also finds its way into a field at the back of the site and silts up a stream there - so when it rains, the watercourse can’t cope and it floods out onto Mill Lane as well. There is just a knock-on effect all around here.

“There should have been plans in place as to where this surface water would go.

“Residents know exactly what the issues are going to be when these applications are made for housing - but we just get ignored. These developers come up with schemes that look good on paper, but when they put them into practice, they just don’t work,” Cllr Woodburn added.

The LDRS understands that the developer, Eric Wright Group - which is building the bungalows under its Applethwaite brand - has told Preston City Council that it plans to install additional bunding to prevent water leaving the site.

A spokesperson for Eric Wright Group said: “At times of high rainfall, the junction of Cumeragh Lane and Camforth Hall Lane has flooded. We understand that this has been an ongoing problem for over 20 years.

“Investigations indicate that highway drains are of sound condition - however, there is a collapsed surface water drain on third party land which is the main source of the problem.

“In response to a concern raised by a resident, we liaised with the Environment Agency, who confirmed that they were satisfied with the measures in place to mitigate water run-off from our site.

“Lancashire County Council is aware of the defective drain and we will support them in resolving the issue with the third party.”