FLOODING misery returned to Tavistock on New Year's Eve — the second year running the festive season has been ruined for some residents.
Water poured into houses in the Callington Road area after a culvert overflowed during heavy prolonged rain on Sunday.
'Last time it was Christmas Eve — this time it was New Year's Eve,' said resident David Budge, after his home flooded to a depth of around four inches.
'Luckily we've had a new back door fitted recently, so the double glazing stopped most of it.
'It must have been about four feet deep in the garage at one time.
'It's so frustrating — they're going to have to sort it out. It doesn't matter whose responsibility it is at the end of the day, when people's belongings are being ruined.'
John and Margaret Williams spent thousands redecorating their converted basement room after being flooded last Christmas. It has now been ruined again.
Mr Williams said: 'Within minutes the water was coming in through the floor.
'I spent four months sorting this out. I was very depressed, very fed up about it and I'm now very unhappy it's all destroyed again.'
Mr Williams said it was vital the culvert was investigated quickly.
Mrs Williams said: 'It's just not good enough — we don't feel secure any more when it rains.'
Mike Hall, a Callington Road resident who has campaigned for action regarding the culvert, is bitter about the 'torrent' of water.
He and other residents begged West Devon Borough Council to consider the effects of nearby house building on the ancient drainage system.
He said: 'We warned the council and now the inevitable has occurred.
'We made it quite clear if they didn't take any notice there would be problems.'
And Paul Pridham, chairman of Boughthayes Tenants' and Residents' Association, said: 'We feel we have been badly treated and ignored.'
He and Mr Hall were grateful to the firefighters from Yelverton, Bere Alston, Tavistock and Plymouth who worked so hard on the night.
Alison Stoneham, borough council spokesperson, said: 'The problem was caused by snow covering, a vast amount of rain, a very fast thaw and the fact that silt and timbers washed down from the building site.'
Mrs Stoneham said the dispute over who actually owned and had responsibility for the culvert — the borough or South West Water — was at a 'stalemate' and in the hands of lawyers.
'South West Water were asked by us to attend but refused. As we are the local authority, under emergency powers we took over.'
She said the builders assured the borough they monitor the culvert screen above Boughthayes daily — at Christmas it was clear.
'We've had 100 days of rain and it's been working until then — it just couldn't cope with that amount of water.'
Stephen Swain, of South West Water, said: 'The culvert is not part of the public sewerage system, therefore South West Water regrettably does not have responsibility here.'
West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett, who has been in close contact with residents, said the design of the culvert screen was 'completely inadequate'.
'As soon as West Devon's offices opened I was in touch with the head of building services.
'He agreed this should never ever happen again and will ensure proper measures are taken at the head of the culvert.
'West Devon are acting immediately to require the developer to construct silt and waste traps in front of the culvert screen.'
Mr Burnett paid tribute to the fire services and said their efforts vindicated last year's campaign to retain crews at strength.
And three Liberal Democrat councillors have called for West Devon Council to hold an internal inquiry into the situation.
Cllrs Peter Donkin, Roy Connolly and David Stapleton say action should be taken immediately to eliminate flooding risk and to draw up an action plan with other agencies to permanently rectify faults in the drainage system.