THANK you for publishing my photo of the flooding that occurred near the railway bridge in Anderton Lane, Whitchurch, last Monday (December 23).

The flood water further down the lane, by Anderton Cottage, was even deeper than that, and two cars came to grief there when they drove through it at normal speed! The water seemed to back up across the road there because the bank of the Tiddy Brook was raised when the new footpath was constructed two years ago.  The flood water had to rise until it overflowed over the bank, then cascaded dangerously across the new footpath.  Quite a lot of the meadow was submerged — the very meadow where Redrow propose to build 110 houses, with the access from Anderton Lane!   

This was the second time in a week that Anderton Lane had to be closed due to flooding, and we are warned of more heavy rain in the next few days, so flooding could happen again quite frequently.  

Streams and rivers drain away surface water and will inevitably flood when they are overloaded — that is fundamental, and we have seen the miserable results on the news over Christmas. 

The planning authorities must now take heed of all the evidence. It is obvious that any development on land which could flood, or which obstructs a watercourse, or could increase surface runoff,  should not be allowed!

Alison Wright