Flooding at West End Green



Cars and bystanders were forced to wade through knee-high water after a flash flood hit West End Lane yesterday afternoon, putting shops and businesses at risk.

The flood, which rushed through the high street around 4pm, followed an unusually heavy downfall of rain and stretched along the north end of the street by Pizza Express and West Hampstead fire station.

Following the quick-thinking of nearby firefighters who waded through the water to clear the drains, shops at risk from the torrent of water were saved from any damage.

                        

Nick Russell wading through the water at West End Green

Nick Russell, (member of our local LibDem Spotlight team, a former councillor who lives in Mill Lane and who happened to be there at the time) said :

“It’s a good job the firefighters were there
to help clear the drains. It was shocking  
to see people having to wade through
knee-height water after such a short
period of rainfall.

I think in this case it must have been due
to drains which hadn’t been properly 
cleared of fallen leaves but we’ve had
endless problems with flooding in the area!”

Water leaks and flooding have been a long-standing problem in the area and have prompted angry residents and councillors to call for Thames Water and the council to get to the bottom of the issue.

Reports that basements and cellars of homes in Fordwych Road and the West End Lane area have been flooded have been circulating since December last year.

Cllr Keith Moffitt, who represents West Hampstead, said yesterday’s flooding comes after a series of reassurances were given to residents about sorting problems out. "Thames Water came to talk to us and made a long list of promises about flooding in the area but problems seem to be continuing. It's happened before and it will go on happening whenever we get really heavy rain as long as the Council don't clear the drains regularly and until Thames Water gets its act together and starts giving value for money. Our bills get higher every year and the service just seems to get worse!"

This report appeared in the Ham & High online on Monday