WITH pedestrians constantly running the gauntlet in Wide Lane, Southampton, I think it’s high time the council and highways chiefs got their act together and cleared these soakaways that clearly don’t work after even moderate rain showers.

This issue has been going on since the construction of the present roundabout. It always was a flooding point but the raising of the bridge and road should have cleared the problem, not made it worse.

I watched the issue earlier this week and witnessed an elderly gentleman, pictured right, wait a good ten minutes before he could pass by this section without getting a soaking. When speaking with him and others who have endeared this for many a year they are all now totally fed up with it.

Driving around the city I noted that we are not the only ones to suffer road flooding after moderate rains.

I’m old enough to remember the snorkle (drain cleaners) that used to come out on a regular basis and keep the drains free of leaves and sludge. Perhaps it was high time they were reintroduced to help keep this city of ours clean something the present administration are failing to do on a too frequent basis.

Councillor Bob Painton

Swaythling Ward