Harlow Council has been working hard in the Harlow Common and Potter Street area bringing together different agencies to deal with a number of longstanding flooding and water-related issues.
Working in partnership with both Essex Highways and Affinity Water, repairs and maintenance works have recently been completed to correct several problems which have been affecting residents.
On Harlow Common, HTS has been conducting ditch maintenance to prevent flooding in the area (including Church Road and Mill Street). The council has also been working with Affinity Water to highlight water leaks, which has led to several repairs taking place along a major water main that serves the area. Affinity Water is also planning further major improvement works to the water main in the future.
Working with Essex Highways, the area has benefited from road gully cleansing and maintenance that will help to prevent surface water flooding, and there are investigations currently taking place into a defective drain along the bridleway between Red Lion Lane and Potters Field which has caused flooding.
Commenting on the works, Councillor Nicky Purse, cabinet portfolio holder for environment and sustainability, said:
“For too long the residents of Harlow Common and Potter Street have had to deal with flooding and surface water problems which have created difficulties in getting about and even caused flooding in homes. We’re serious about making sure problems like this don’t happen again and I’m pleased to see that there has been great progress made in works to deal with the causes and reduce the risk of them coming back.
“I want to thank the council and HTS staff who have dealt, and continue to deal, with these works, as well as our partners at Essex Highways and Affinity Water who have also been involved.
“This is all part of our mission to renew our neighbourhoods. We will continue to work with and bring together agencies to ensure that issues are solved to improve our residents’ quality of life.”