COUNCILLORS were embroiled in a heated debate over an apparent lack of maintenance to drains in Lympstone. Village councillor Jim Bailey said he had received scores of complaints from residents, fed-up with drains and culverts being blocked recently, lead

COUNCILLORS were embroiled in a heated debate over an apparent lack of maintenance to drains in Lympstone.

Village councillor Jim Bailey said he had received scores of complaints from residents, fed-up with drains and culverts being blocked recently, leading to water spilling along roads and building up outside the front doors of properties.

Keen to see an end to the problem, Mr Bailey, at a parish meeting held last Monday, January 4, probed county councillor Bernard Hughes, to find out whether Devon County Council intended to sort out the issue.

Mr Bailey said: "I do not feel there is enough maintenance done to the drains.

"It is a matter of the county council to get off their backsides and do something about it. I wonder whether they listen to parish councillors."

Mr Bailey identified Sowden Lane, Dawlish Park Terrace, Underhill and the area around Saddlers Arms as having problematic drains.

He added: "I reported the one at the Saddlers at a council meeting some 18 months ago.

"I agree they have cleared the drain at the end of Wotten Lane which must run across the road and into the culvert.

"But the culvert is still chocked and has been running over all this winter when we've had rain. It has been running down the road causing ice to form on Longmeadow Road.

"We're fed up with it because there doesn't seem to be any maintenance done. They (Highways' workers) have meetings there, but there is no point having meetings if they don't get on and do the work.

"It seems a waste of time - spending public money and nobody goes to actually clear the drains.

"They (DCC) just seem to ignore our demands to get them clear when it is their job. They do take the money from everybody for road drainage water which is on your council tax bill.

"Are they spending it on drainage or is not going on all what it's catered for?"

County councillor Bernard Hughes suggested arranging for highway workers to attend a future parish council meeting to discuss the issue.