By Duncan Bick

Last updated at 13:05, Wednesday, 25 July 2012

Householders in Carlisle have called for action on their waterlogged gardens.

Mike Hamilton in his waterlogged garden

Residents of homes on Borland Avenue, Botcherby, have said the drains for their properties do not deal properly with the area’s rain. Their concerns have been taken up by landlord, Riverside Housing Association.

One of the worst affected is 68-year-old Mike Hamilton, who has lived in his home for more than 30 years.

His back garden, which lies at the bottom of a slope, has a large amount of water floating on its surface.

“I used to have a 24ft shed, since it’s gone there’s like a hole there,” he said.

This shed used to contain racing pigeons, a hobby he gave up four years ago.

Neighbour Geoff Brown, 75, has also suffered flooding in his back garden, and is always worried it will get into his summer house.

He is concerned for all the street’s residents.

“It’s been like this for a while,” he said.

Another person who is badly affected is Mary Seabrook, 80.

The garden of her home, which is further up the slope, also fills with water when it rains.

When it dries out again, the ground stays waterlogged.

The wooden pole she uses to prop up her washing line sinks into the ground because it is so sodden.

She has been a resident for around four decades, and her mother also lived there.

“I’ve lived here for 40 odd years and it flooded off and on when my mother was alive but it wasn’t quite as bad,” she said.

All think a new drainage system needs to be installed on the street to deal with the rain. Some drainage alterations were made at Mary’s home last year but Riverside acknowledged this has not been effective.

A spokeswoman for Riverside said they had been monitoring its success before extending it to the rest of the street.

“Garden flooding and drainage is a problem in this street due to the low lying position of the gardens. The exceptionally unseasonable and continuous rain this summer has exacerbated the problem here,” she said.

“We accept that these drainage works have not solved the problems here and are arranging a site visit with our contractors to look for a better solution. We have visited the tenants and assured them we do want to find the right long term solution as part of our planned maintenance programme.”

First published at 11:26, Wednesday, 25 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk