Concerns raised over condition of roads and flooding in Axminster

Concerns have been raised over the condition of roads in and around Axminster, and how potential new housing developments could add to the problem.

The issue was raised at an Axminster Town Council meeting early this year by Axminster resident Bryan Ball, who said he had grown increasingly concerned about the condition of local roads and flooding incidents, adding that at one point almost all routes in and out of Axminster, except Lyme Road, were flooded.

He said he felt that Axminster was sometimes forgotten, being on the extremity of the county border, and if drains and verges had been regularly cleared, the town would not have suffered such problems.

"It really is deteriorating," he said. "They are asking us to have another 1,000 homes in Axminster and at times you can't get in or out of the town at the moment."

Mr Ball referred to potential development sites highlighted in East Devon District Council's draft Local Plan, which suggest that 1,050 new homes could be built in Axminster.

Town councillors said they would pass his concerns on to Devon County Council chair and ward member for Axminster, Cllr Ian Hall, who attended a town council meeting in February to address the issue.

Cllr Hall said that a very hot summer, followed by a considerable amount of rain and then a harsh frost, had contributed to problems on the road and the amount of recent roadworks.

He reported that, across Devon, there had been 500 reports of potholes a day for much of January, with a total of 7,400 potholes recorded throughout the month - the highest figures for any single month in the past three years.

In Axminster alone, more than 450 potholes were reported, with 60 considered to be below specification for any action to be taken. The most challenging road in Axminster was Lodge Lane, at Weycroft.

Following extensive flooding in Axminster in 2012, the Millbrook culvert that connects to the Network Rail culvert was upsized to the largest specification possible at Willhay Lane – three times the capacity of that it replaced.

A Property Flood Resilience Scheme was launched to address the residual risk for the flooded properties, many of which are in Willhayes Park, and this was due to have been completed at the end of February.

Referring to the number of new houses proposed in EDDC's Local Plan, Cllr Hall said these were "not acceptable", adding: "In my opinion, our lovely town should not have to accept lion's share of EDDC's numbers due to added strain on our roads amongst other reason."

Cllr Hall said the district council was undertaking a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment in support of its Local Plan, which he said needed to consider all risks of flooding.

"There is strict planning policy in place both nationally and locally, and developers must meet certain requirements when building," he added.

"I am of the understanding that the new proposed developments in Axminster could be held up by Natural England, due concerns regarding phosphates in the river Axe.

"Depending on how this is addressed, it could include solutions that offer flood risk benefits as well. However, this could be sometime in the future."