AN EXMOUTH resident fears the town centre could be subjected to serious flooding unless a problem of water leaking under homes in the town centre is rectified. Ann Prior, of Egremont Road, has for a long period of time raised concerns to the relevant aut

AN EXMOUTH resident fears the town centre could be subjected to serious flooding unless a problem of water leaking under homes in the town centre is rectified.

Ann Prior, of Egremont Road, has for a long period of time raised concerns to the relevant authorities about flood risks posed by blocked drains in the Colony area of town.

Keen to see an end to the issue and the risk removed, the campaigning resident said her latest worry was estuary water which continued to find its way into a Colony road junction.

She believes the water is gathering under houses on the estate, fluctuating in depth with the tide, and is finding its way under a poorly maintained river wall.

Ann said: "Maintenance is not happening. The water is still coming in.

"Every householder knows that if you don't fix a leak you will eventually have to deal with a gusher.

"In this instance the gusher would have the town centre and shops awash in short order, a fact that is slowly beginning to dawn on people."

Ann said a member of staff at South West Water had been working hard, together with a highways officer, to try and pin down the precise source of the water, but without success.

"It is of the view that it is finding its way under the river wall.

"My mother always insisted that EUDC (Exmouth Urban District Council) officers ensured that the river wall was properly maintained."

But, she added: "If you get someone to take some shots of that wall you will see that it is in very poor fettle. It is very porous, maybe it too could be a cause of the leak."

Ann said a committee would be reconvened at Exmouth Town Council to monitor any risk of flooding in the town.

"A proper committee needs to be set up to look into the situation seriously to sort out what needs doing.

It is not just the Colony - it will spread to the town centre. How many times has water gone into Somerfields? Quite a few!