How can you help prevent autumn flooding?
![Fallen leaves can lead to problems (file picture)](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/legacy_oak_88460487.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65&enable=upscale)
![Fallen leaves can lead to problems (file picture)](/img/placeholder.png)
West Sussex County Council is calling on people to help rake leaves away from drains to stop them blocking up.
According to the council, every autumn, highway drains quickly become covered with falling leaves and sometimes become blocked – increasing the likelihood of flooding.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAnd now the council is asking for people to spend a few minutes raking the leaves ou of the way – and has also offered these five tips...
1) Where possible, do it in daylight, outside peak hours, when visibility is good, on roads of less than 40mph. 2) Stand on the verge or pavement and rake leaves downhill towards you until they are well out of the way. 3) If you live on a busy street, park your car in front of the drain to create a safety barrier for you. 4) Wear something bright so you are clearly visible and other road users know you’re there. 5) Avoid raking leaves uphill, or into the road, as they will only be blown or washed back into the drain.
Councillor Bob Lanzer, the county council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “Leaves blocking drains is a common problem every autumn. Any help we can get from residents clearing leaves can have an impact on stopping flooding before it starts. We look after 137,000 highways drains and gulleys across the county, and it is hard to predict where leaves collect and where issues will arise. Any extra help people can give us to prevent problems before they happen can go a long way.”
Anyone who finds flooding problems persist after a drain has been cleared can report the issue online, at love.westsussex.gov.uk, from where the Love West Sussex smartphone app can also be downloaded.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdDon’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.
Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.
1) Make our website your homepage
2) Like our Facebook page
3) Follow us on Twitter
4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.
And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!
Always the first with your local news.
Be part of it.