Gardens resemble ponds due to flooding

Residents on Mulberry Close in Newport, Shropshire, are facing severe garden flooding, with water levels reaching approximately two feet. The water has transformed backyards into pond-like spaces, all adjacent to a large local mere.

Jackie, a long-time resident of over 20 years, described the situation as unprecedented, saying she had "never experienced anything like this before." Another resident, Jay, who lives at the lower end of the street, noted that flooding in the area has escalated recently. "I can't use the back gate anymore," he explained, predicting that the gardens may remain waterlogged well into next year.

Jackie added that the flooding has persisted for six to eight weeks and appeared after heavy rainfall, uncovering a blockage that had been present for around a year. She emphasized the inconvenience for residents, highlighting that dirty water has spread across gardens, many of which contain children's toys.

Severn Trent engineers investigated the site and confirmed that the blockage causing the flooding is not connected to their water network. "We can confirm the flooding on the mere is not linked to the Severn Trent network," stated a company spokesperson, adding that the council is being supported to find a solution.

Telford & Wrekin councillor Andrew Eade noted that the problem was initially identified by a water company engineer about a year ago and confirmed via camera inspection two weeks ago. He highlighted that the overflowing pipe has caused gardens to flood to a considerable depth, resulting in significant distress for local residents.

The water company checked its network on December 3 and confirmed that the blockage is external to their system, and continues to collaborate with the council to address the issue.

Author: Harper Simmons