KCC Highways turns its back on flooding school

12.00.00am GMT Wed 18th Feb 2009

KCC Cllr Trudy Dean is calling on KCC to foot the bill for extensive damage to More Park Roman Catholic School West Malling, which flooded last week as a result of Kent Highways refusing to pump highway rainwater off the school site.

As Headteacher Carol Smith saw rainwater from Lucks Hill building up around her school last Monday (6th Feb) she phoned Kent Highways to pump the water away. The flood waters continued to rise and when the squad arrived water was level with the top of the school entrance steps. Every vehicle passing through the flooded road sent a wave of water onto the school which lies below the road level. School staff watched as the highways squad drained the highway water away, and were assured they would come onto the school later. But they didn't. They left the site before five o clock without draining the school site. Further pleas for help that day were refused, and heavy rain overnight resulted in almost the entire school being flooded when staff arrived the following morning..

This stretch of road floods regularly after heavy rain and the school log books show reports of flooding going back 27 years.

Local Councillor Trudy Dean was called to the school on Tuesday and took photos of the extensive damage. She raised the alarm at County Hall and a squad of helpers from KCC were deployed removing all carpets and floor tiles affected by the flood. The damage is estimated at over £50,000 much of which will have to be paid by the school governors as insurance cover is not provided by the Diocese.

Trudy said "I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The Parish Council has complained repeatedly about obstructed or inadequate drainage at this spot. It is bad enough that the problem has never been sorted out. But to leave the school without help when it was obvious the flood waters were rising beggars belief. The children's schooling should not have to suffer because the Highways gang went home for tea."