Councillors say they have repeatedly been assured work will be carried out
Flood waters on Yeldham Place(Image: Chris Hall)
A local councillor has claimed that a lack of action to prevent flooding at a Stoke-on-Trent brook is being blamed on biodiversity concerns. For the past several years both residents and local councillors have been urging Stoke-on-Trent City Council to cut back vegetation around Newstead Brook to alleviate flooding and safety concerns.
As previouisly reported, during periods of heavy rain, the brook, which runs through the estate, regularly floods the recently refurbished park on Waterside Drive. Now campaigners are calling for the brook to be dredged because of a build-up of silt and other material, which campaigners say is the result of insufficient maintenance.
Community campaigner Chris Hall has previously said how council workers have attempted to start work on the brook but have blamed weather conditions for not completing vital work. Local councillors Dan Jellyman and Maxine Clark say they have “continually” raised the issue and were previously assured that work would be carried out.
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Councillor Jellyman claims the council has suggested that more substantial work cannot proceed because of biodiversity concerns. Previously community activists have been told that work can’t be carried out during the Summer months due to animal breeding.
Councillor Jellyman said he has been told an ecology survey was carried out but has not seen the document. He has since submitted a formal request for it.
He said: “Maxine Clark and I have been raising the flooding of the playground off Waterside Drive for the past two years. In the past, the council took some action, including cutting back vegetation, which did help. But flooding still happens because the council will not regularly cut back the vegetation.
Flood waters are at risk of damaging the recently revamped park(Image: Chris Hall)
“The new play equipment that Goodwin International installed, and paid for, last summer keeps getting damaged. What really angers me is Labour run Stoke-on-Trent City Council is now claiming that more substantial work cannot even be looked at because of biodiversity.”
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It is not just play equipment that is being damaged due to the water that spills onto Waterside Drive. Residents say the flooding is also damaging nearby properties that back onto the brook, with fencing panels collapsing into the water.
The Reform UK councillor for Hanford, Newstead and Trentham added that the brook has been channelled throughout the city. Research suggests that altering the natural flow of waterways can disrupt native species and reduce biodiversity.
He added:“It has been channelled by developers, and it has also been channelled by the city council. The council did not seem too worried about biodiversity when those man made channels were built. And it does not seem to be a problem when the council is selling the field and flood plain off Magdalen Road to a property developer, which Newstead Brook runs through.”
“So Labour will stand up for “biodiversity” on a brook that spends most of its life in a man made channel, but will not properly act to stop flooding that is damaging a children’s play area and affecting local residents.”
Stoke-on-Trent City Council has been approached for comment but had not responded at the time of publication.
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