Councillor Derek McCrum

I am overjoyed to report that my request to Surrey County Council's Local Committee to clear the watercourse running from Moor Lane to Martin's Press/Unwins in Old Woking along the South Woking Flood Plain has at last been successful. The Valuations Manager, Corporate Services, has ordered that "regular inspections are carried out and that debris and rubbish is removed where appropriate". The ditch was last cleared in 2000 after the last big flood. Unfortunately the contractors did not stick to the specifications, deepened the ditch and damaged the banks, especially on the side where there are resident's gardens. Due to this damage SCC have not done any maintenance and the ditch has become full of weeds and is virtually stagnant with resulting smells.

Sadly I have since discovered that SCC has no intention of dredging the ditch, despite first saying that it would be done. It only intends to remove any rubbish which falls in. This does not in any way maintain the ditch in the condition it was put in by dredging in 2000. It will remain clogged with weed and stagnant, unable to drain the flood plain as intended.

The New Life Church congregation has kindly offered to help clear some of the weed.

SCC has now done an assessment which will identify what needs to be done and promises to organise a management schedule. Hopefully this will prove to satisfy residents. In any case I will persist in supporting residents' wishes.