End in sight for flood-plagued road

Work to install a new drainage system on a road which has been the scene of persistent flooding for more than 15 years has started.

The project on Chemical Lane in Longbridge Hayes, Staffordshire, began on Monday and is scheduled to take about 12 weeks, Staffordshire County Council said.

Business owners have long complained about the flooding, with one saying it was making it almost impossible for his company to operate.

The council said it had been a complex issue to tackle but the new system, once installed, would take surface water from the road to an existing drain.

Andrew Mynors, the authority's cabinet member for connectivity, said: "The flooding on the lane has been an issue for many years, so it's great to see work start on a long-term solution."

The area was given the nickname "Chemical Lake" following the persistent flooding issues.

Carl Belford, director of Chemical Lane skip hire firm Belford Brothers, previously said the situation was having an impact on his business.

"It's going to cause damage to my vehicles," he said, "and customers can't get to me because their vehicles are too small."

He added that it had become "more or less an impossible situation".

Neighbouring businessman Phillip Moore, from Moore Metals scrapyard, said after previous flooding that it had prevented lorries from coming to the site.

"It seems the only solution to the tenants and owners of the properties around here is to say 'look let's stop paying our business rates until this is sorted out'," he added.

Network Rail, which has worked with the council and Severn Trent Water to design the scheme, previously said the issue was caused by the blockage of a nearby stream.

The work will be carried out under a combination of temporary lane and road closures in place throughout the project, the council said.

Access to businesses would be maintained at all times via the Chemical Lane/A500 junctions and a signed diversion has also been put in place.

Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.