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21
Feb
Last Updated: 21/02/2024
Wormald Green grandmother hopes for end to water woes
Liz Cooper hopes the flooding issue is resolved soon.
Grandmother Liz Cooper, who often finds herself marooned in her home at Wormald Green near Ripon, is awaiting flood relief.
After months of waiting for the waters that lap up against her garden gate to subside, she and her husband Mike called on the Stray Ferret for help.
Persistent rain has made it difficult for the couple to leave their home.
Mr Cooper told the Stray Ferret:
"With the heavy rains that we've had this winter, the flooding problem has been the worst we have seen it in 10 years."
After we emailed this photo of a waterlogged Mrs Cooper to North Yorkshire Council, the response was swift and positive.
Mr Cooper, who had contacted the council in January, received a letter from a highways customer communications manager, which said:
"Thank you for highlighting your concerns about the water pooling across the road when it rains and water is entering your property.
"The highways officer has been alerted to the matter and will investigate the cause and identify the cause of the blockage and look to resolve the matter as soon as is possible."
Mrs Cooper hopes this will finally enable her to venture out more easily. She said:
"I'm just looking forward to being able to sit out in my garden again and watch the three grandchildren going around on their ride-ons."
Speaking about the issue of widespread flooding that has affected many parts of North Yorkshire this year, Melisa Burnham, the council's highways area manager, said:
“Our officers work tirelessly throughout the year to keep gullies clean and operational. We have a programme of regular cleaning, which check that they are fully functioning and can involve clearing the pipes.
“Many parts of the country have experienced exceptional levels of rainfall in recent weeks and following a prolonged wet period the ground is already saturated and prone to standing water.
“In several places across North Yorkshire, flooding occurred in areas with clean and well-maintained drainage systems. When we get significant heavy rainfall such as this, the gullies and the drainage system can’t cope with the volume of rainwater.
“An order was placed for the blocked gullies in Wormald Green in January to have nine gullies through the village jetted and cleared.
“We would like to thank our frontline highways crews who have been out in some horrendous conditions to keep the public safe.”
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