Local News · Swindon
Gipsy Lane residents left in misery as flooding persists for over three decades
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
A long-standing drainage crisis in Gipsy Lane has left residents struggling with recurring floods, with local councillors now demanding urgent action from the council.
A Swindon resident has spoken out about a 31-year battle against persistent flooding outside his home, describing a situation he says has become unbearable. Brian Reynolds, 78, has lived on Gipsy Lane for more than three decades, located directly next to the EMR Swindon scrap metal facility. He reports that his property, situated in a dip at the bottom of the facility’s sloping entrance, frequently takes on water as rain runs off the yard and collects in his garden.
The issue has intensified in recent weeks. According to Mr Reynolds, his garden has flooded eight times in the last nine days alone. On the morning of 27 October, he found the water level had reached the second step of his home, preventing him from leaving the property. Two storm drains situated outside his home are reportedly blocked and full of water, while a soakaway drain on the opposite side of the road has also reached capacity, causing excess water to spill across the carriageway and into neighbouring gardens.
Mr Reynolds expressed his frustration with the lack of progress from local authorities. He stated that he remains certain one of the blocked drains has suffered a structural collapse. He added that the council had placed flood and slow signs on the road, but motorists are now mounting the pavement to bypass the standing water, causing further damage to the footpath.
The impact of the flooding extends beyond the immediate water ingress. Following a diesel spillage on 7 October, when a truck collided with a barrier on Bridge End Road, residents have reported that diesel residue is still being washed into their gardens during heavy rain. Furthermore, neighbours have attempted to mitigate the damage by raising their own gardens and installing gravel driveways, though these measures have struggled to contain the persistent flow of water.
Gorse Hill ward councillor Princia Fernandes has intervened, warning that the drainage infrastructure is failing even during minor rain events. She has highlighted that residents are suffering significant damage to their properties and vehicles, describing the situation as a long-standing failure that remains unresolved. Cllr Fernandes raised the matter with the council’s cabinet member for highways and transport in July, and a council spokesperson has confirmed that a crew has now been arranged to visit the site to investigate the cause of the ongoing flooding.
Source: Swindon Advertiser - Politics · View original