Flood fears to spark house-building protests in Sutton

Residents from Searby Road, Sutton, who are opposed to housing plans near their homes, get the support of Councillor Steve Carroll, sixth from right.

Up to 30 people are expected to gather and protest against the proposals for potentially up to 750 homes on sites near to Newark Road, Searby Road and Kirkby Folly Road.

Although no applications have been submitted, the land has been highlighted by Ashfield District Council as part of their local plan into possible sites for building in the future.

But major concerns over flooding during heavy spells of rain have re-surfaced and without appropriate flood defences in place, could put existing homes in danger.

Nottinghamshire County Council’s Councillor Steve Carroll said: “This is a great concern for us locally.

“Residents have been suffering from flooding for many years now and there is a genuine worry that these new developments will make the flooding a great deal worse.

“I am supporting local residents and asking that Ashfield District Council reconsider their plans.

“Flooding devastates lives and I am supporting local residents in protecting their homes, gardens and in some cases their livelihood.”

With the area in a ‘natural bowl’, the area has been threatened by floods in the past and defence schemes have been considered.

A £250,000 scheme was scheduled to take place in 2008 but funding was withdrawn, leaving many angry.

Coun Carroll said: “This has been going on for years, if you talk to people who live there, some have been there for 40 or 50 years and the threat has always been there.

“It’s so frustrating for them.”

In addition to water flowing off the fields, residents have estimated that there are approximately 26 natural springs in the area that contributes to the flooding.

The Searby Road site is also an old landfill site and has a pipe above ground level to  enable the release of methane gas.

Coun Carroll says the The demonstration will be held on the April 21 at 4pm at the top of Searby Road.

“This is just an opportunity for people to congregate, I’m no expert in this but I just want to get people together and have an outlet for what they want to say.”