VILLAGERS are calling on Herefordshire Council to invest in works to bridges and drains to prevent flooding in Ewyas Harold.

Mark Ponting, a former county highways engineer, told last week’s cabinet meeting he had been arguing for adequate drainage in the area for years, to no avail.

He said the bad drainage turns the main road into a river almost four foot deep.

“Basically, what we need is a capital works programme we can submit to,” he said.

“I have been arguing with Graham Powell and Peter Jinman and had meetings with Welsh Water and others about the lack of proper adequate drainage through this village.

“Two bridges have been replaced because of 40 tonne lorries, so as as soon as all the water comes down the surgery bridge there is a choke point.”

He said an Environment Agency-commissioned report suggests the Dulas brook is adequate in hydraulic terms except for the bridge.

“I wanted this bridge to be put on the capital works programme.

“Equally, the drainage through this village is a hotchpotch of highways, private ownership and other interested parties.

“We need somebody to coordinate that and put right this drain through the village which takes up all of the high contours which flow down onto the road.

“We see the road like a river, on many occasions twice a year. Nobody can get to Hay-on-Wye or anywhere else as the water is four foot deep.”

Cabinet member John Harrington said he would look into it.