Vince Cable

Thames Water has promised a programme of sewer cleaning and closer cooperation with the Council.

Following this summer's heavy downpours and the sewage flooding experienced by many residents as drains overflowed, Vincent Cable MP convened a meeting in Twickenham with Richard Aylard, a senior Director of Thames Water, and David Trigg, the Council's Cabinet Member for Highways following a succession of petitions and letters from residents clamouring for action after their gardens, and homes in some cases, had been flooded by sewage. York Road, Teddington; Strawberry Vale; Lincoln Avenue; Burtons Road, Hampton Hill were amongst the roads affected.

Vincent Cable said: "One of the problems we discussed is that Thames Water has no systematic record of sewage flooding events. Some roads experience regular flooding twice a year but they had no knowledge of this history. Questionnaires are now being distributed to build up a picture of which streets are at risk.

"I have been promised closer coordination in future between the Council and Thames Water managers and that there will be a cleaning of the sewers in the affected areas. Some of the problems are caused by blocked gullies, responsibility for which falls to the Council.

While the July storm was exceptional it performed the useful function of identifying weaknesses which can now be addressed."