A COUNCILLOR is calling for urgent action to be taken to clear and repair a drain which keeps flooding into a main road.

Frinton councillor Robert Bucke first told Essex County Council that The Street, in Kirby le Soken, floods following rainfall five years ago.

It can lead to pedestrians getting drenched by passing cars.

Mr Bucke claims the flooding has become worse since he first reported it because road resurfacing over the years has made the drain gully narrower. He is calling for County Hall to take action to address the problem.

The drain is located on The Street, in Kirby Le Soken, opposite the Red Lion pub and near to the church hall as well as a refuge site used by residents from the town and surrounding areas.

Mr Bucke said there has been continued flooding for a long period of time, even before he first complained to the council.

He said: “The road becomes flooded easily when there is normal rainfall or heavy rainfall and it doesn’t dry out at this time of year.

“The drain needs to be cleared and repaired professionally and urgently. People are getting splashed on the pavement and cars can’t always avoid the flooded area.”

People objecting to plans for ten more homes near to the flood prone area have also cited flooding as a concern.

A county council spokesman said: “The council clears 90,000 gullies each year along the key routes in Essex and another 20,000 local hotspots and problem areas where we know silt and debris can build up.

“We recently invested an additional £250,000 to clear gullies and prevent flooding. The money will pay for an additional gully cleansing machine to target an additional 30,000 gullies annually.

“Drains are cleaned out every year on this main road, most recently in May 2016. The last report of a problem here we have is from February 2014, so we would urge residents to report issues or concerns online at essex.gov.uk/highways.”