Harborough councillor calls for more to be done to combat flooding caused by new housing

Cllr Phil Knowles, leader of the council’s Opposition, said he’s acting as flooding becomes a full-blown crisis for scores of fed-up residents.

Cllr Knowles said: “This is becoming a massive problem across the district.

“We need to be looking at such crucial issues as flooding, water tables, drainage and so on before giving planning applications permission.”

Furious families have had their gardens and streets flooded by huge David Wilson Homes schemes at Burnmill Farm in Market Harborough and Fleckney Fields, Fleckney.

“We’ve had a very wet autumn and we do seem to be getting more rain as a result of climate change.

“We have to work with neighbouring authorities in Leicestershire to tackle this growing threat,” insisted Cllr Knowles, a Liberal Democrat.

“We need to pool our expertise, knowledge and ability and work together to come up with proper long-term solutions.

“Tough conditions that are laid down when planning permission is granted also need to be strictly enforced.”

Cllr Phil King, leader of Harborough District Council, said they are doing all they can to try to minimise the danger of flooding.

He said: “We consult Leicestershire Local Flood Authority when we look at every planning application.

“They are a team of experts and assess such issues as flooding, drainage and the water table.

“We look at the whole picture before we give developments the go-ahead.”

A council spokesperson said: “We continue to investigate reports of flooding at development sites in the district.

“We are liaising with developers and the lead local flood authority as required.”