Flooding across Staplehurst, Hunton and Yalding could continue this weekend
17:38, 17 November 2020
updated: 19:12, 17 November 2020
Flooding across much of west Kent may have subsided since the weekend, but more heavy rainfall is expected by the end of the week.
Areas of Yalding, Staplehurst and Hunton were badly affected yet again and further flooding has not been ruled out in Maidstone town centre.
Footage shows the extent of the flooding in Staplehurst since Sunday. Credit: Elevate Aerial Photography
An amber alert for the River Beult from Pluckley to Hampstead Lock at Yalding was finally removed today but more disruption could be expected from Friday, according to the Environment Agency.
It says it is monitoring the situation as 'significant rainfall' is expected before the weekend.
On Sunday, villagers had to once again put up with impassable roads and boggy conditions which lasted through to Monday.
In Laddingford, the road by The Chequers Inn to the bridge in Hampstead Lane caused trouble for motorists, as did Lees Road.
Locals in Hunton reported having to take lengthy diversions through Maidstone after West Street between Cheveney Mill and Hunton School became impassable.
Problems were also reported along Lughorse Lane.
A lorry in Staplehurst was captured struggling to get through Clapper Lane while delivering goods to Frankie’s farm.
Chart Hill Road was one of the worst hit areas with fruit fields at nearby Bardsley England’s site partially submerged.
Ward Cllr for the village, John Perry, says the floods are made worse in Staplehurst because of drainage issues on the new build estate in Marden Road.
He said: “A lot of the water has gone down but it always floods along Chart Hill Road because of the medieval bridge which blocks the stream.
“As far as I know it didn’t affect any properties this time round but the bigger problem we have got is that a lot of the roads flood because the ditches haven’t been properly cleared, and because of the drainage and sewage issues.
“The parish council has put forward a solution that we would like Southern Water and the developer to take seriously.”
Geraldine Brown, who chairs Yalding Parish Council said it is what the village calls ‘normal flooding’ and is not worried about more rainfall yet to come.
She said: “We’ve always had it. There was nothing to worry about, no houses got flooded and it all seems to have gone now.
“There might be rain forecast but you can never tell what it will be like, we’ll just have to wait and see but we’re always prepared for it.”
One MP has hit out at Kent County Council (KCC) for failing to keep its promises to find a solution to flooding which has been a problem in her constituency for more than 10 years.
Tracey Crouch has said KCC is yet to provide a long-term remedy for flooding woes on the A20 near the Quarry Wood Industrial Estate in Aylesford.
In the letter she described having to again write to the authority as “enormously frustrating”.
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