Flooding issue angers Ripon resident

Dave Parkin, 71, was meant to have the kerb near his Cedar Close property lowered by North Yorkshire County Council’s Highway Department more than a year ago.

However, instead of having his kerb lowered, the Highways Department put asphalt in the gulley outside his house which, when it rains, creates a backlog of water which floods into his garden.

Mr Parkin said, despite multiple calls to the county council and to Coun Peter Horton, his curb has still not been lowered and he has been forced to continually sweep his gulley of asphalt to access the drains.

He said: “I have got to go out every day with my brush and it’s not on. It takes me about 20 minutes to do it but I should not have to do this work as I’m not a roadsweep. I’m sick of having to do this every day.

“I wanted the curb lowered so people could get through with mobility scooters. I am not the only one having problems with the condition of the roads around here as everyone on the street is up in arms about it.”

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire County Council said: “ Due to the current high demand for service across the District it has not been possible to complete this remedial work on Cedar Close to dat.

“However an order has been raised to have the asphalt removed from this gully and it is expected this will be completed within the next 30 days.

“NYCC would like to apologise to Mr Parkin for any frustration or inconvenience this situation may have caused.”