July 2025
Flooding and Drainage update as at 16th July 2025.
Still no date from Network Rail yet for their contractor CML to carry out the work to clear the blockage in the water surface culvert under the barrier arm at the rail crossing. The price to install a new section of pipe and clear the blockage is we were advised at the last MAG meeting on the 25th June as approx £110k. NR have confirmed that the work will be done.
On Friday 4th July the National Grid contractor inadvertently broke a clay pot surface water pipe outside no 60 Mill Lane. To fix he had to expose a large section of the pipe revealing that it is blocked solid toward the Mill Lane junction! Despite chasing Anglian Water, they were unable to reallocate resources to attempt a clearance before the contractor was required to repair and make good the road on the 15th July. LCC Highways declined the opportunity to help clear this section stating - ‘We do not feel that jetting the pipe is a viable option, jetting would fill the trench with water and be a possible cause of collapse of the excavated trench, also the outfall is via the section of pipe that Anglian Water have yet to repair so there is no outlet for the water. So at present we do not intend to take any immediate action although it has been valuable to see the pipe exposed. We do suspect this pipe will be an Anglian Water asset’. It is more than likely that the whole of Mill Lane surface water system is blocked. AW have given us their assurance that they will schedule in works to clear. It does confirm that the blockages are a result of many years of neglect and as suspected part of the overall poor state of the surface water drains and the reason why Mill Lane flooded in January, February and May 2024.
The 3 remaining blockages identified and marked up by Anglian water back in February this year have been further investigated and it is thought that the work from the junction of Mill Lane past the front of the Old Post Office toward the Gables will uncover more than the three blockages the camera survey revealed. Due to the National grid road works from 11th August to 4th November LCC highways have agreed with AW to do the work overnight starting in late September. LCC will at the same time start the installation of silt gulley traps.
Photos of the Mill Lane blockage have been posted to the Parish council website. As soon as any further information is available on any of the above the Parish council website will be updated.
Take care. Philip. Tallington Parish council as at 16th July 2025.
