Westmorland and Furness council has called on residents to report damaged or blocked gullies, after a problem was highlighted by a Penrith town councillor.
Jeff Thomson, who represents Penrith West as an independent on the town council, says he has found more than two dozen gully grates blocked, or partially blocked, in the Castletown area of his ward.
He has urged the new unitary authority to “get back to basics” when it comes to maintenance work.
He said: “Judging by the debris and weeds, many have been blocked for months. It is not acceptable and the unitary council needs to start doing one of its basic jobs, keeping streets and pavements clean and clear.”
With the threat of unpredictable winter rainfall as global weather conditions change, the last thing residents want or need is localised flooding because water can’t drain away due to blocked drains, said the councillor.
Responding to Mr Thomson’s comments, a spokesman for Westmorland and Furness Council said the authority delivers a routine gully cleansing programme across the council area, including Penrith, to ensure that areas particularly prone to flooding are maintained.
“In addition, we respond to publicly reported damaged or blocked gullies when we are made aware of them via our approved reporting channels,” said the spokesman. “We encourage the public to make us aware of any gully-related issues by completing our highways online reporting form or by telephoning the Highways Hotline on 0300 373 3306, so our teams can assess and undertake necessary repair work efficiently.”
