'Flooded Chesham underpass poses significant disease risk'
A call has been issued for urgent action to deal with stagnant water in an underpass which has been closed for five years.Chesham Town Council said that with the "current spell of hot weather, the water poses a significant risk of disease due to contamination and mosquito breeding".It has written an open letter to Buckinghamshire Council asking for the water under St Mary's Way, which is a dual carriageway, to be dealt with urgently.Buckinghamshire Council deputy leader Thomas Broom said the authority's highways team had commissioned "a full structural and drainage survey, which will be carried out over the summer".
In its letter, Chesham Town Council said the "essential public thoroughfare has now been closed for approximately five years – a staggering length of time that reflects a gross failure of responsibility on the part of those charged with its maintenance and oversight".It said residents "have been forced to endure this neglect, and the town council will not stand by while this hazard continues to endanger public wellbeing and degrade our town's infrastructure".Broom said: "We fully appreciate the concerns of residents, local stakeholders and the town council regarding the ongoing and long-standing flooding issues at this underpass.
"We have already responded directly to the town council to acknowledge their concerns and provide an update on the situation."Despite multiple efforts to upgrade the in-situ pumping equipment, the situation has unfortunately worsened."Broom added that the standing water would be pumped out and regular inspections would be carried out ahead of the full structural and drainage survey.
Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Glastonbury weather: Latest forecast offers hope festival-goers will avoid extreme conditions at Worthy Farm
With just a few days left until the UK's biggest weekend of music kicks off, festival goers may be wondering whether to pack their welly boots or sandals. Those preparing to head off to Glastonbury have faced changing weather forecasts in the weeks leading up to the world famous event. In what will certainly be welcomed by most heading to Worthy Farm this weekend, the Met Office has forecast mostly sunny and cloudy skies with highs of around 25C. This will be a relief after the UK saw temperatures soar over the weekend to 33C in what was the hottest day of the year so far. Gates to the festival - which is being headlines by by Olivia Rodrigo, The 1975 and Neil Young this year - will open at 8am on Wednesday. But revellers could be setting up their tents on damp ground, as some patchy outbreaks of rain and drizzle have been forecast on Tuesday. On Wednesday, festival goers can expect temperatures of 25C with sunny intervals, before it grows cloudier in the afternoon. Worthy Farm is set to wake up to overcast skies on Thursday morning, before sunny intervals are expected with highs of 23C. On Friday, as the music begins, there are predictions of cloudy skies changing to sunny intervals by late morning with temperatures set to hit 23C once again. The temperature is expected to stay steady at 23C on Saturday, though more overcast skies are expected. The final day of the festival will begin once again with overcast skies, before the sun comes out by late morning and temperatures hit highs of 25C. It comes after the country was hit by a heatwave over the weekend with a provisional high of 33.2C recorded, making it the warmest day of 2025 so far. An amber heat-health warning from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) was issued, covering all regions of England. The mercury hit a record-high of 33.2C in Charlwood, Surrey. On Friday, a temperature of 30.8C was reached, triggering an official heatwave across England and Wales after three consecutive days of hot weather. An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK. You can find the full forecast for Glastonbury according to the Met Office below: Wednesday 25 June Sunny intervals with highs of 25C. Thursday 26 June Overcast changing to sunny intervals by late morning with highs of 23C. Friday 27 June Cloudy changing to sunny intervals by late morning with highs of 23C. Saturday 28 June Overcast changing to sunny intervals by lunchtime with highs of 23C. Sunday 29 June Overcast changing to sunny intervals by late morning with highs of 25C.
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
A simple hack can help to cool down your home in hot weather – it's completely free and only takes seconds
THE UK is hot right now and if you're looking for ways to survive the soaring temperatures, a simple step can keep your home cool. You won't have to spend a single penny to make your space more comfortable in the sweltering heat. With the UK staring down the barrel of a potentially scorching summer, many of Brits are looking for ways to keep cool. There has even been a spike in Google searches for heatstroke signs and treatments this month. Corey Sims at CSDB has revealed some simple and practical tips to beat the heat, without breaking the bank. One of his hacks involves freezing your bed sheets and pyjamas for a cool night's sleep. However, another lesser known step can also be taken to stay refreshed in the summer heat. Corey recommended sourcing a plastic spray bottle and filling it with cold water. And while everyone knows that this can be used to spray yourself directly in order to cool down, you can also use it to lower the temperature of your home. You can spray your curtains to create a budget-friendly cooling effect in a room. "Dampen your curtains to cool the room," the expert advised toasty homeowners. "As air blows across the wet drapes, evaporating water absorbs heat and lowers the room temperature. "The hot weather also ensures the curtains dry quickly without smelling damp." If you don't have a plastic spray bottle on hand, you can pick them up from most bargain retailers. And the expert shared an additional tip that will help you survive the rest of the summer. If you keep your spray bottle of water refigerated for the upcoming weeks, you can guarantee a cool home until September. "One great idea is to fill multiple spray bottles with water and store them in the fridge, so they are ready when needed," he said. The expert revealed other steps you can take to keep your home cool this summer. He recommended close your windows and blinds during the hottest part of the day. "Just as cold air enters your home through windows in winter, hot air does the same in summer," the pro explained. "Keep them closed during the day to block out heat. Open them early in the morning and at night to let in cooler air." He also advised against using your oven in the hot weather, instead opting for no-cook meals like salads and sandwiches to keep your kitchen cool. "This is a perfect excuse for a BBQ to keep the heat outside your home," the expert pointed out. "Using an oven at operating temperatures for any amount of time is reported to raise the temperature in your home by five degrees. "This could contribute to heat exhaustion if your home is already hot. "Picky bits on a hot day are another brilliant go-to for dinner."
BBC News
4 hours ago
- BBC News
Fallen tree halts Cosham - Southampton Central / Eastleigh trains
A fallen tree has halted trains between Cosham and Southampton Central and large tree across the railway line near Portchester means all lines are closed with trains unable to run affecting Great Western Railway, Southern and South Western Railway Rail said its staff were working to remove the tree as quickly as they can, however "the tree in question is very large and will take some time to remove".Buses are replacing trains with major disruption expected until about 12:00 BST. Routes affected:Great Western Railway services between Portsmouth Harbour and Bristol Temple Meads / Cardiff CentralSouth Western Railway services between Portsmouth Harbour and Eastleigh / London Waterloo, between Portsmouth & Southsea and Southampton CentralSouthern services between Brighton and Southampton Central You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
