Sir, – I live at the end of a cul de sac where, if there is heavy rain, a large road drain floods due to the build-up of leaves and silt. As far as I am aware the county council has never tried to clear the drain or to remove the leaves, which arrive, like clockwork, every autumn.
I appreciate that this is a minor annoyance compared with the dreadful flooding people are currently suffering. However, it is symptomatic of a lack of planning by a county council (which I suspect is replicated throughout the country) as they take no action and leave drains to flood again and again.
In Germany they have a simple solution to ensure road drains do not become blocked. The drains have a removable basket, which hangs under the drain cover, trapping the leaves and debris. These baskets are emptied regularly, ensuring the drains provide the service for which they are intended.
A while ago I contacted a local county councillor and suggested this solution might help to avert flooding in our towns. He told me the problem was being dealt with, and that all new roads would have holes in the kerbs that would allow water to drain off but trap debris.
RM Block
I have only found one such example and it was impossible to see if it was working, as a large pond and a mass of debris blocked all the said holes. – Yours, etc,
Catherine Byers,
Dublin.
