Uploads from Alan Stanton, tagged stormdrain

Flooding from blocked drains after rain

nobody@flickr.com (Alan Stanton) — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 15:33:47 -0700

24 June 2012. This problem has recurred for at least a year.

Any heavy rain soon fills up the drain gulleys and gutters, making a long pool between the junction with Stoneleigh and Chesnut Roads. Traders here have reported the problem. Although it would have been obvious - especially to Haringey staff involved with the High Road.

In fact the road and drains here are the responsibility of Transport for London (TfL) as this is a main road "red route". (Partly shown by the red markings.)

Update 14 July 2012

Beehive and Pond

nobody@flickr.com (Alan Stanton) — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:59:04 -0700

Alan Stanton posted a photo:

►► Update 16 May 2012. I reported this pool to Haringey's Environment Department on 10 April. The drain gully was unblocked by the Council's contractors on 14 May. A sluggish service.

This is Stoneleigh Road N17 opposite the Beehive pub. On 11 April Haringey Environment Department acknowledged my email. Then on 12 May emailed to say they'd inspected it: "and instructed contractors to carry out remedial works".

► On 3 May it was still pooling - and presumably still blocked. So I took this photo and emailed Haringey asking why the work had taken so long.

They replied on 16 May, saying the works had been "completed by our contractor to our satisfaction". But without giving any reasons for the delay. Then I re-read their emails more carefully. And realised I had skipped over the information that their "aim" is to complete such work "within 28 working days".

So no way, delay. Just operating sluggishly. Liked a blocked drain.

----- Original Message -----
From : Alan Stanton Tottenham Hale ward councillor
To : Haringey Environment Department
Sent : Tuesday, April 10, 2012 3:37 PM
Subject : Blocked drain gully Stoneleigh Road N17 opposite The Beehive pub

Please see the photos on Flickr at this address. They show a pool of water yesterday due to a blocked drain gully roughly in the middle of the pool. It’s about half way along the white arrow painted in the roadway. Please arrange for this to be cleaned out. Thanks.

----- Original Message -----
From : noreply@Confirm.haringey.gov.uk
To : Alan Stanton
Sent : Wednesday, April 11, 2012 1:47 PM
Subject : Acknowledgement of your Enquiry - 74995

Thank you for reporting a Highways Gully Blocked problem in Stoneleigh Road, N17 via E-Mail.

● Additional information reported:
● Date and time originally reported: 11/04/2012 13:39:21.
● Location: Stoneleigh Road opposite The Beehive Pub. About half way along the white arrow painted in the roadway.
● Nature of defect: Gully Blocked.
● We will inspect the problem within two working days and decide how urgently it needs to be fixed.

We will contact you again by email with the result of our inspection. If our contractor needs to carry out remedial works, we will let you know when the works have been completed to our satisfaction.

● We aim to repair all street lights that are not working within three working days of a fault being reported but this may take longer if it is an electrical supply fault.
● We will make emergency hazards on roads and pavements safe within two hours.
● We will repair potholes, problems with roads, pavements and street furniture within twenty eight working days.
● If the problem is considered to be dangerous, we will repair it within one working day.

----- Original Message -----
From : "noreply@Confirm.haringey.gov.uk"
To : Alan Stanton
Sent : Wednesday, May 16, 2012 11:53 AM
Subject : Highway Enquiry Update - Works completed - Enquiry 74995

This email is to let you know that the remedial works for the highways problem at Stoneleigh Road, N17 Tottenham that you reported have been completed by our contractor to our satisfaction.

¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
§ See where I took this photo.

Pizza Gogo - pavement flooding

nobody@flickr.com (Alan Stanton) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:00:37 -0700

Alan Stanton posted a photo:

25 April 2012.

. . . Read more here.
.
____________________

See where this picture was taken.

Flooding

nobody@flickr.com (Alan Stanton) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:00:00 -0700

Alan Stanton posted a video:

25 April 2012. Flooded drain gullies outside 426 High Road, Tottenham N17.

(It's opposite the junction with Forster Road. This part of the High Road is a "red route" and the responsibility of Transport for London.

____________________________
See where this photo was taken.

Twig marks the spot

nobody@flickr.com (Alan Stanton) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:01:05 -0800

Alan Stanton posted a photo:

----- Original Message -----
From : Alan Stanton. Tottenham Hale ward councillor
To : Homes for Haringey
Cc : Ward councillors
Sent : Tuesday, January 24, 2012 10:03 PM
Subject : Drain Gully blocked - Ashdown Court Lansdowne Road - Spencer Road N17

On 19 October 2011, I reported a blocked drain gully in the grounds of Ashdowne Court, Lansdowne Road/ Spencer Road N17. A resident told me that heavy rain causes a much larger pool.

I asked for the gully to be cleaned out, and I took two photos which I posted on Flickr here.

I was at Ashdowne Court earlier today and noticed that the drain gully was still blocked. I took these two new photos. It appears that the gully is so choked with material (perhaps loose gravel? ) that it felt almost solid. I had a problem inserting my usual marker twig for the photo.

Can you please arrange for this to be inspected and cleaned.

The maps available on Flickr show the exact location. So would you also confirm that you can view these photos.

____________________________
See where this picture was taken.

Drain Gully blocked solid - stick shows the spot

nobody@flickr.com (Alan Stanton) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 08:48:38 -0700

Alan Stanton posted a photo:

18 October 2011. Once more, a practical demonstration of the invaluable uses of a short stick.

This pool of water was in the grounds of Ashdowne Court, a Haringey housing estate in Lansdowne Road Tottenham. As I took photos, a resident walking past told me there was a much larger pool every time it rained.

You can just make out the cover of a drain gully. It's clearer in the photo below. I prodded it with the stick and found the stuff blocking up the gully was almost solid. (Reported to Homes for Haringey for clearance.)
______________________________

Links

§ Read more about how Mother Nature reveals blocked drain gullies to local councils.
§ Aerial view of where this photo was taken.

Avenue Road Pool

nobody@flickr.com (Alan Stanton) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 09:22:01 -0700

Alan Stanton posted a photo:

18 September 2011. In the early evening there was a heavy downpour. So Zena wanted to check if Haringey's Urban Environment Department * had sorted out the pooling in Avenue Road — as promised two months before on 19 July 2011.

They hadn't. So we investigated with that indispensable, free, handy tool — a ligneous improvised detection device. In other words, it was simple and quick to locate a blocked drain gully by scraping and prodding a wooden stick along the gutter.

Then I pushed the stick temporarily into the gunge in the drain. So anyone - even the Environment Department - can see the exact spot. (Hover your mouse on the photo to see my note.)

The water stank. So either the pool had been there for some weeks; or there is a misconnnected sewer pipe somewhere nearby.

_________________________________

§ See where this picture was taken.
§ Read more about how Mother Nature reveals blocked drain gullies to local councils.
§ N.B.* Haringey no longer has an Environment Department. This name was far too sensible and easily understood by residents. It was therefore given a fancy-schmancy new name which I can never remember. Something about Place & Space.

Blocked Drain Gully - Parkland Road N22

nobody@flickr.com (Alan Stanton) — Thu, 20 May 2010 08:21:55 -0700

Alan Stanton posted a photo:

On 15 May 2010, following rain, a pool formed at the corner of Parkland Road and Caxton Road, Wood Green.

Rain is Mother Nature's way of showing local councils the location of blocked drain gullies.
For both residents and local councillors, Mother Nature also provides a supply of free, improvised tools for locating a blocked gully without soaking your feet or sleeves.

Taking a suitable wooden stick from under a nearby tree, I dragged it along the pool and detected the drain gully roughly midway. The water pooling was almost certainly caused by this being filled by thick gunge. So choked-up that I could "plant" the stick as a handy marker and take this photo for Haringey's Environmental Services. (See below *)

Click for another example of these ligneous detection devices.

Of course, in failing departments of local councils - just as in many other organisations - there may be blockages elsewhere in their cognitive systems which stop Mother Nature's messages getting through.

___________________________________________

§ Explore this location on a dry day with Google Street View. You can quickly spot the metal grill over the drain gully. (Click the link and wait a few seconds for the panorama to load.)
§ * Haringey Environmental Services was the old name for the Department. It was renamed "Urban Environment" — for the benefit of any resident who hadn't realised they lived in London, but mistakenly believed they'd moved to Harrogate near the Yorkshire Dales.
It has now been renamed again with some fancy-schmancy name like "Space, Time and Entropy". Assuming residents won't have the faintest clue what it's for, the number of public inquiries may fall dramatically.
§ A different helpful improvisation with a short wooden stick.
§ Report a blocked drain or another street problem on Haringey Council's website.

Poolside . . . again

nobody@flickr.com (Alan Stanton) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 11:58:50 -0700

Alan Stanton posted a photo:

March/April 2010. I followed-up this continuing problem which I'd been reporting for over a year.

I also spoke to one of the staff in the Highways ~~Team~~ 'assets group'. He planned to make a further visit to see how the problem could be solved.

And even more good news! He could actually see my Flickr photos of Dowsett Road and other locations on his work computer! At my request, he was added to the minuscule list of Haringey staff who are no longer treated like naughty children. Instead they can use twenty-first century social media tools to help them do their jobs.

----- Original Message -----
From : Highways Assets Group
To : Cllr Alan Stanton
Sent : Wednesday, March 03, 2010 2:57 PM
Subject : Flooding on dropped kerb - Dowsett Rd near corner of Ladysmith Rd

The highway inspector has again inspected the gullies at this location and has informed me that none of the gullies are blocked.

We will continue to investigate design issues at this junction and look to install new drainage measures to alleviate the flooding problems.

----- Original Message -----
From : Alan Stanton
To : Haringey Highways Assets Group
Sent : Monday, April 05, 2010 8:29 PM
Subject : Flooding on dropped kerb - Dowsett Rd N17 near corner Ladysmith Rd

Please see my latest photo of this pedestrian crossing which I took on 3 April 2010 after rain. Is there any progress with plans to prevent the regular flooding problem?

Dowsett Pond - Update 2 February 2010

nobody@flickr.com (Alan Stanton) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:58:36 -0800

Alan Stanton posted a photo:

14 January 2010. The remains of the ice and snow were melting.

The morning brought sleet, then rain. Leaving a larger than usual pool in Dowsett Road.

Dropped kerbs and tactile paving (the bobbly stuff) were installed to make access easier. But apparently, when these were planned, no thought was given to drainage. To a lesser extent, the same problem can be seen in many other locations.

Rheola Lake - Update 19 January 2010

nobody@flickr.com (Alan Stanton) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 07:01:58 -0800

Alan Stanton posted a photo:

In January 2010 we had snow and sleet, followed by rain. The remains of the ice and snow were melting ─ leaving a large pool in the roadway and on the pavement. Why? Mystery solved below.

High Road Tottenham, London N17 near Rheola Close (the buildings on the right.)

►SCROLL DOWN for more photos.

► Or jump to update 19 January 2010 below.

Rheola Lake #2

nobody@flickr.com (Alan Stanton) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:06:30 -0800

Alan Stanton posted a photo:

Rheola Lake #3

nobody@flickr.com (Alan Stanton) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:09:51 -0800

Alan Stanton posted a photo:

14 January 2010. From a single blocked drain gully.

I twigged it a month earlier. But action hadn't been taken by Haringey.

Twigged

nobody@flickr.com (Alan Stanton) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:39:09 -0800

Alan Stanton posted a photo:

9 December 2009. From time to time, elected ward councillors will need to look round for a handy wooden stick or dead branch. Here's one I used as a temporary marker for a blocked drain gully.

----- Original Message -----
From : Alan Stanton, Tottenham Hale ward councillor
To : Haringey Urban Environment
Sent : Thursday, December 10, 2009 3:25 AM
Subject : Drain Gully flooding - High Road Tottenham N17 near Rheola Close

I was pleased to receive an assurance on 6 December that:
" . . . we already monitor the incidents of localised flooding when there is intense rainfall. Over the last couple of weeks, most of the flooding problems have been due to gullies being blocked with fallen leaves, which have quickly been resolved. The incidents of flooding are much less than they were a couple of years ago due to investment in drains over the last couple of years, which was a part of our preventative maintenance programme."

However, as mentioned in my reply, I've noticed repeated localised pooling along the same stretches of roadway – presumably from the same blocked drain gullies.

Please see my photo on Flickr. It shows a section of roadway on the east side of High Road Tottenham, near Rheola Close. Over the past month I've observed a large puddle there each time it rains. As this is 100 metres from the Council offices at 639 High Road, I was optimistic it might be spotted.

Yesterday 9 December, after a visit to the Planning Offices, I equipped myself with a large twig fallen from a nearby tree, and dragged it along the gutter; finding a blocked drain gully close to the post-box in the photo. As you can see, temporarily I stuck the twig in the gully.

As this is a Transport for London 'Red Route', it's possible TfL have the job of keeping these drain gullies clean. If so, may I please ask you to notify them.

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Correction :
My former colleague Ray Dodds was at the time a councillor for Bruce Grove ward. Ray pointed out this part of the High Road is not a Red Route. So Haringey, not Transport for London is responsible for maintaining the roadway and drains. I wrote to Haringey apologising for my mistake.

Fairbanks Road - Blocked drain gully

nobody@flickr.com (Alan Stanton) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:33:32 -0800

Alan Stanton posted a photo:

14 November 2009. Grey rainy day in Fairbanks Road, Tottenham N17.
(View on black).

Following heavy rain is the perfect time to spot blocked drain gullies - like the one in the middle of this pool. Haringey residents can report them using the Council's website. They are usually cleared within three working days - especially if there's flooding.

Give enough detail to pin-point the location, and describe any water pooling.
You don't have to fill-in personal details. But giving an email gets you an immediate acknowledgement and a reference number – handy for chasing-up.

New Pool

nobody@flickr.com (Alan Stanton) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:05:50 -0700

Alan Stanton posted a photo:

23 March 2009. New pair of dropped kerbs in Dowsett Road N17.

The tactile paving (the bobbly stuff) helps blind and partially sighted people cross the road at the zebra crossing. Provided they don't mind wading through the new pool.

It still rains in London; sometimes quite heavily. So you might assume Haringey Highways staff and contractors would think about drainage when designing dropped kerbs.

Apparently not.