House flooding causes anger

AN OUTRAGED mother claims her house was flooded during heavy rain after her housing association failed to combat drainage problems.

Kelly Surteef's kitchen was left under water after storms battered Redditch last Thursday (June 28) despite claiming she had warned Midland Heart about the issues since moving in to her Pulman Close property seven years ago.

And the 28-year-old mother of one told the Standard she was now afraid to leave her home in case it was flooded on her return.

She said: "I was out shopping during the day and I got a call off my next door neighbour and she sounded a bit panicked, she just kept telling me to get home quick.

"When I got back I couldn't believe it. Her whole kitchen and downstairs toilet were flooded with about two inches of water. And water had come through my back door and flooded the floor."

She added she was told last year either a new drainage system would be put in place in the garden or a wall would be built behind her property, although no action had been taken of yet.

Richard Chapman, head of property services for Midland Heart, said he was sorry some customers had been affected by flash floods due to the intense rainfall.

He added: "We are working closely with our customers and have already taken immediate action to ease the problems created and will continue to do all that we can to help.  For some properties, this does include scoping the feasibility of the installation of land drains as a longer term solution."

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