Concerns over five-bed homes bid in Broads village

A plan for new homes in Orchard Court has raised worries about surface water floodiing Photo: Liz Coates (Image: Archant)

Residents close to Orchard Court in Ormesby St Margaret are worried that adding the houses will add to their flooding misery.

Speaking at Ormesby with Scratby Parish Council meeting one neighbour said the drains in the unadopted close were not maintained and that surface water was an issue.

The North Road resident said downpours had triggered flash flooding and made her toilets unusable and that while she had not had water indoors others nearby had and taken precautions that could impact on her.

Parish councillors said they shared her concerns and were also worried about management issues with the private road and drains.

A plan for new homes in Orchard Court has raised worries about surface water floodiing Photo: Liz Coates (Image: Archant)

The meeting heard the homes had been built in an old part of the village mostly before 1900 and that the drains were now insufficient.

Since 1910 there had been 17 notable cloudbursts, nine of which had happened since 2000.

Parish councillor Geoff Freeman said the five bedroom homes with “bathrooms galore” would mirror those on the other side of the road.

For the plan to succeed they would need to insist on a complete scheme involving upkeep of the road and drains and who would be responsible.

One member said: “The problem is if they do not have a management scheme in place if something happens everyone will look the other way.

“This is something the borough is getting very hot on now and I think they will be on our side.”

People have until Thursday July 12 to have their say.