URGENT action is being demanded to investigate and clear blocked drains after a heavy shower caused surface flooding in several areas of York - including Huntington Road, scene of some of the worst floods on Boxing Day.

Resident Craig Kirby, who only recently returned to his home in the road following major repairs, told today how rainwater was unable to drain away after the ten-minute shower last night, forcing traffic away from the kerb.

He said there had been a drainage problem ever since the Boxing Day floods, which were caused by the nearby River Foss bursting its banks.

He believed silt from the floodwaters, or possibly builders' waste, was blocking the drains, and he thought action was needed by the council to clear them out.

He said he had spoken to City of York Council's environment executive member, Andrew Waller, who was pursuing the matter.

Cllr Waller said he had visited both Huntington Road and areas of Heworth to examine drainage problems earlier today, and would be pressing for the council to carry out work to deal with the problems as a matter of urgency.

He said work had been done to clear such drains after the winter flooding but it was possible they had again become blocked with silt.

However, there were a number of other possibilities which would need to be explored, such as a blockage caused by a brick falling in or by a utility.

He said vehicles parked in Huntington Road, including vans for workmen carrying out repairs to flooded properties, might make it difficult for council staff to investigate the drains, and it might be necessary for a temporary parking restriction to be imposed.

Firfefighters were called out to the Heworth area of York last night after a property was flooded during a torrential shower.

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service said a crew from Huntington went to the house in Bramley Garth to help deal with flooding at 6.45pm.

The rain also led to surface water flooding on roads in the area, and gardens in Bad Bargain Lane were left under floodwater. 

Sue Boyne captured this photo in Walney Road, Heworth:

York Press:

York's dilapidated drains have been exposed as seriously inadequate by investigations in recent years, due to decades of under-investment and neglect, and have frequently failed to cope during heavy rain.

Earlier this year the city council announced a large expansion of the gulley-cleaning service, to try to tackle the crisis.