Buckinghamshire Council’s programme of cleaning highways gullies across the county has now hit the 50% mark.
The council set aside an extra £4 million to fund the works, as part of a wider improvement programme for residents.
Steven Broadbent, Buckinghamshire Council Cabinet Member for Transport, joined one of the teams to see the operation in action. He said:
“It’s fantastic news that our Transport for Buckinghamshire teams have now cleaned more than 50% of the gullies in the county.
“Flooding from blocked highway drains can blight people’s lives – especially during extreme weather – which is why our gully clearing programme is so essential. It’s designed to protect people and buildings from the impact of flooding on our roads and footways.
“We made a welcome additional investment this year to clear every drain and gully whilst repairing those which require fixing. We aimed to clean as many as possible before the winter rain sets in, and I’m very pleased that due to the hard work of our crews, including putting in extra hours and calling on some external help, we’ve got over the halfway mark. There is clearly more to do but our crews are working apace to deliver this for the benefit of our residents."
The Aylesbury Arm has been closed to navigation since mid-June due to low water levels, and now a Canal & River Trust spokesperson has confirmed to Bucks Radio, “Water is now being restored to this pound after an issue caused by interference with lock apparatus."
Buckinghamshire residents, businesses and interested groups are being asked for their views on the council's approach to future development in the county, in light of a significant increase in the number of new homes central government says must be built here.
Last Wednesday, at the Elgiva Theatre in Chesham, ten charitable organisations received a share of £120,000 in cash grants to help further support their vital work and community services.
Following today's announcement (9/9) that they will close 3 day centres, Buckinghamshire Council have announced a new and improved model for how it provides day care and overnight respite services for adults with disabilities and complex needs.