Water company urged to come up with flooding plan

East Marsh councillors wrote to Anglian Water to call for a borough-wide review of its network

Anglian Water is being urged to find long-term solutions after a residential area flooded for the third time in just over a year.

A letter from three North East Lincolnshire Council councillors was sent to the water company requesting a review of water leak issues after the Freeman Street area in Grimsby flooded again on 28 October.

"This isn't an isolated issue, the network across East Marsh is failing piece by piece," councillor Stephen Beasant said.

Following the recent leak on Freeman Street, Anglian Water said it was "investigating long-term solutions to prevent future issues".

A burst water main caused flooding in Freeman Street and Garibaldi Street in Grimsby on 17 September last year

Previous Freeman Street floods occurred in May and October last year, with market traders saying it cost them thousands of pounds in lost takings.

Anglian Water said the most recent leak was due to a burst water main which was a "different pipe from the last issue".

East Marsh councillors Nicola Aisthorpe, Steve Beasant and Loyd Emmerson, who wrote the letter, also referenced recent leaks in Columbia Road, Hildyard Street and Roberts Street.

The letter requested a borough-wide review of East Marsh's underground network, an investment plan to replace the oldest pipework, and to publish regular updates on leaks, repair times and upgrades.

Aisthorpe said "streets are being left flooded and our roads repeatedly dug up".

"Anglian Water must take responsibility and come to the table with a proper long-term plan," Emmerson added.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the letter sent to Anglia Water issued three separate legal notices for East Marsh ward, meaning the council has called on the water company to make urgent repairs.

Aisthorpe said they had received a response from Anglian Water's chief executive and were in discussions to create a long-term plan for both East Marsh and North East Lincolnshire.

Anglian Water has been contacted for comment.

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