Sompting Floods

For years, residents in St Paul's Avenue, Sompting, have had their gardens and homes flooded during heavy downpours. Experts reckon it is caused by a nearby collapsed drain on land belonging to Worthing Borough Council or Southern Water.

Adur District Council said it was the responsibility of these two authorities, but Worthing council wants Adur to contribute a third of the repair work and upkeep costs of the drain.

After months of arguing, officers from all the bodies concerned decided that continuing with legal proceedings was too expensive and time-consuming and agreed to share the cost of repair works and future upkeep of the drain.

A proposal that Southern Water and Worthing council shared responsibility for the repair and upkeep of the pipework from the Teville Stream to the Worthing boundary at St Paul's Avenue 50-50 was put forward and West Sussex County Council accepted it would be responsible for the pipework which passed under the road. The drains then go on to private land and it was agreed this would be the responsibility of the private owners.

But Adur council then received a letter from Worthing council, asking it to contribute 33 per cent of the costs because it would be for the benefit of Sompting residents, who lived in the Adur district.

Adur council has since refused, stating it does not own the land concerned and it is not the drainage authority. It has since written to Worthing council, stating it should be responsible for the repair work and upkeep.

Adur councillor Andy McGregor, who represents the area, said the problem of flooding in St Paul's Avenue had become far worse over the last two years.

"It affects up to 15 homes in the area. Worthing Borough Council is dragging its feet over the issue and the flooding causes extensive damage."