'˜Flood works have put our homes at more risk'

Since last September Thames Water contractors have been on site at Icknield Way, where they have dug up the common to put in place a holding basin.

Though this was intended to prevent surface flooding, residents say the works have actually made matters worse for them.

Kevin Reid, of Whitwell Close, told the Herald & Post that during flash flooding last Tuesday (June 7) the basin burst its banks, leaving several homes perilously close to being flooded.

Mr Reid, 68, said: “It was frightening, it was spewing up like a fountain.

“That will happen again. What I want to say to Thames Water is ‘how would you like to live under that threat?’

“Eventually it is going to affect all of the houses, this will happen again and next time it will be worse.”

Concerns over flooding follow months of complaints over the way contractors have left the common covered in soil.

Marsom Grove residents have sent a petition to Luton Borough Council, in which they say the site has been 
left looking “like a disaster zone”.

Mr Reid added: “It looks absolutely dreadful.

“It was a really nice place to come and enjoy the scenery, often students from the college would come over and sit down for lunch.

“Now they have made it completely inaccessible.”

In a statement Thames Water apologised for the issue last Tuesday.

A spokesperson said: “We’re sorry for the problems residents experienced last week.

“Since then, we’ve made some amendments to our work on Icknield Way, which we hope will prevent problems in the future.”