West Hull residents feared repeat of last year's floods

07:00 - 08-July-2008

WEST Hull residents today pleaded with Hull City Council to improve street gully cleaning after a repeat of last summer's flooding was narrowly avoided.

People living in Boulevard resorted to using screwdrivers and other tools to clear leaves and debris blocking gullies in the street before council workmen arrived and took over.

It came after heavy rainfall left water lapping just 2ft from front doors yesterday afternoon.

Mother-of-four Jill Atkinson, 38, had to wade into the knee-deep flood water to clear leaves from a gully cover.

As she scooped out handfuls of debris, she said: “I called the council just before 1pm to report the rising water, but they just said they would pass it on to their waste management department.

“I was not happy with the response so I came out with a long-handled screwdriver. It seemed to work and other people joined me.”

Once the council had cleared the gullies, the flood water in Boulevard quickly drained away.

Following the June 25 flood last year, the Independent Review Body (IRB), commissioned by Hull City Council to investigate the event, ruled blocked gullies were not a major cause of the disaster.

However, water regulator Ofwat later suggested blocked drains may have made flooding worse in some areas of East Yorkshire.

In response to the publication of the IRB's final report last November, Hull City Council agreed to step up gully cleaning. All streets in the city will now be cleaned once a year with some being cleaned twice a year, where it is deemed necessary.

Councillor Kalvin Neal, Hull City Council cabinet member, said: “Quite clearly, the gully tops were blocked. It is the council's responsibility. The gullies themselves are clear.

“With the strong winds we have had of late there is an awful lot of leaf debris which is uncommon for this time of year.”

Cllr Neal agreed residents should not have to carry out cleaning work themselves.

He said: “I cannot comment on any individual case, but if people are having to do that (cleaning) themselves, clearly something is wrong.”