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Homeowner claims river is leaking into his garden

Robert Hales A waterlogged garden, with paving slabs under water, which leads onto a field which also has water on itRobert Hales
Homeowner Robert Hales said he "used to have quite a nice lawn"

A homeowner says nothing has been done to remedy a leak from a nearby river that has flooded his garden.

Robert Hales, who lives near Stanstead Abbotts, also said the river was leaking into an adjacent field that he rents from the water company.

Thames Water and Hertfordshire County Council have given differing opinions on the source of the flooding.

Mr Hales, 80, said it would be a "catastrophe" if the riverbank burst and flooded the village.

Tony Fisher/BBC The homeowner in a field with a pump behind him which drains the excess water off into the road.Tony Fisher/BBC
Mr Hales said he had to pay for a pump to drain the excess water away onto the road and into the drains

Mr Hales, who lives in Amwell Lane beside New River, said a surveyor told him that where he lived was the lowest point in Hertfordshire.

"It stinks at the moment," he said, as the water was stagnant.

He has paid £160 for a pump to drain the water from the field and says he has another £40 pump to drain the water from his back garden.

Mr Hales owns three gun dogs and he uses the field - which is 1.4 acres in size - to train them in.

Tony Fisher/BBC A river with a path running alongside it which is on top of the bank leading down to a field and the back of Mr Hales's home.Tony Fisher/BBC
New River runs close to several properties including Mr Hales's home

Thames Water said its initial investigations showed that the roadside gullies were blocked, which could be contributing to this issue.

It said it would look to undertake a dye test which would help establish whether the river was a contributing factor.

It added: "Local authorities are responsible for keeping gullies and ditches clear and we have reported this issue to the council."

However, Hertfordshire County Council said it believed the flooding in Amwell Lane was caused by a blockage in a culvert and drainage ditch - a parcel of land that it did not own.

The council said its staff visited the site in May and cleaned the drains in mid-September.

A council spokesperson said: "We appreciate that this is a frustrating situation for the residents affected, and we will continue to work with the other organisations with a responsibility here to try and ensure that the whole drainage system is working as intended."

East Herts Council was also approached for comment.

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