Authorities accused of failing to prevent Reading flood

Pingewood is a hamlet located south of Reading characterised by large lakes, fields and scattered properties. The area flooded after heavy rainfall came due to storms earlier this month.

Authorities in the area have been accused of making ‘a bad situation worse’ by reportedly not acting to ensure water was diverted away from properties and fishing lakes to prevent flooding.

The Reading & District Angling Association (RDAA) has pointed the finger at Network Rail and West Berkshire Council for allegedly not clearing a culvert, an underwater passage used to direct water east underneath the Reading to Basingstoke railway to get into the Kennet River system.

Claims that have been heavily refuted by both West Berkshire Council and Network Rail who have argued teams were dispatched to the site immediately and found the culvert working as expected.

Reading & District Angling Association lakes and cottages in Pingewood became flooded due to the high water levels caused by storms. Credit: Jamie Stansfield, Reading & District Angling Association

The RDAA, however, said it had conducted a study which ‘proves that the culvert was not working properly’.

Martin Salter, the president of RDAA, said: “We have demonstrated beyond doubt that the failure to ensure an adequate escape route for the floodwaters arriving in the Pingewood area on the evening of Friday, January 5, contributed to the excessive flooding and damage experienced by local people, businesses and organisations such as ourselves.

“Both Network Rail and West Berkshire Council were notified the day before of the impending flood risk and either failed to respond with any urgency or refused to recognise that there was a problem.

“They have both contributed to making a bad situation worse than it needed to be.”

Mr Salter, the former Labour MP for Reading West, said: “Network Rail have clearly been negligent in failing to ensure that the culvert was kept clear with only one of three pipes able to convey water to the east of their railway tracks.

“This is despite the recommendations of the 2014 Flood Review and the problem being identified during the planning process in 2019 for the new £20 million Green Park Station.”

Flooding in Pingewood, with water being backed up west of the railway line. Credit: Jamie Stansfield, Reading & District Angling Association

Cindy Becker, who lives in Kirton’s Farms Road, had her home flooded on Saturday, January 6, with floodwater leading to the closure of roads.

She said: “To be flooded in unavoidable circumstances, as so many people in the country are at the moment, is difficult and disruptive.

“However, to be flooded through the negligence of others is particularly distressing, especially when it has resulted in residents not being able to get to work and many children being kept from school.

“The frustration of seeing RDAA predictions – as in 2014 – being shown to be entirely accurate, and largely ignored, is keenly felt by all residents in the area.”

West Berkshire Council and Network Rail have disputed the claims of the RDAA.

A spokesperson for West Berkshire Council said: “The Council strongly refutes any accusation that we have made the flooding in Pingewood worse.

“We were contacted by RDAA expressing concerns about water levels in Pingewood on Friday, January 5.

“They were concerned that a blocked culvert under the railway was contributing to the flooding and council officers visited the site that morning to look at the water levels.

“The culvert in question could not be inspected as it was under water and it was noted at that time that levels had not reached those of 2014.

“However, the council immediately contacted Network Rail, who are entirely responsible for maintaining this culvert, to pass on the concern.”

A  Network Rail spokesperson confirmed that they were contacted by the council. Adding: “We’re really sorry that some residents in the Pingewood area have been impacted by flooding following recent periods of heavy rainfall.

“Our drainage inspector visited immediately and found the water level of the inlet and the outlet of the culvert under water were the same height on both sides, indicating that it was working as it should and that the problem was with high water levels downstream of the culvert.

“The whole area to the east of the Basingstoke and Reading line has been significantly altered over the last decade with extensive land raising undertaken within the Green Park village area.

“We understand the distress flooding is causing to people and we’d like to reassure residents and the wider community that we are working closely with the [West Berkshire] Council and Reading Borough Council to understand what else can be done to minimise future flooding.”