Kidderminster shopkeepers 'fed up' with ongoing flooding problem

Steve Langer, owner of Surplus and Outdoors, and Pete Webb, who runs the William Hill betting shop, both located on Comberton Hill, say they have faced the problem for more than two years. 

Severn Trent described the issue as "extremely complex" and is working to determine the source. 

Mr Langer said he is resorting to using a sump pump to remove the water, which has reached more than 20 inches. 

"This waste of water issue has been an ongoing issue for the last 18 months or longer," Mr Langer said. 

"Over the past 12 months I have had no more than around three inches in the cellar - but since the hot weather started, the water level has been rising and rising, around two inches a day over the past week.

"Ever since the redevelopment took place of the Kidderminster Railway Station the problem started".

Mr Langer's flooded cellar

Mr Webb added: "We are fed up. 

"I've been trying to monitor this for two and a half years. 

"There's something amiss on Comberton Hill that's causing that problem. 

"There's got to be a breakage in the system".

A Severn Trent spokesperson said: “We have been working with residents in Comberton Hill, Kidderminster, to try and determine the source of the intermittent water showing in the cellars of two properties. 

"The issue has been extremely complex and we’re continuing to work closely with the property owners. 

"Each time a call has been received, our teams have visited the site to review the network and take samples to identify the source of water, however as the water is intermittent it hasn’t been possible to reach a full conclusion".

Severn Trent also confirmed that a leak has now been identified nearby. 

They added: "Our priority is now to repair this pipe as quickly as possible whilst continuing to monitor the area to determine whether this is linked.”