Oswestry residents face 'extortionate' £3,600 fee after Shropshire Council inaction

Residents of Guinevere Close, that runs adjacent to Gobowen Road, are once again having to pay a cost one councillor has called 'extortionate' to employ a pump operator to lower the water levels on Gobowen Road. This comes after flood waters again reached their properties.

The current flooding has been slowly rising since 27th December, with the residents constantly worried that every period of rain would lead to their properties being flooded. Despite this, they had had little to no help from Shropshire Council, with all departments beside the generic emergency line closed over the whole Christmas period.

Following the recent heavy rain, the water levels increased to their highest level in 3 years, reaching the residents’ properties. Upon contacting Shropshire Highways on Tuesday, the residents were finally told they would be provided with sandbags but say they are still waiting.

Due to this, they made a collective decision to pay a pump operator once again - who previously been provided by Shropshire Council during flooding in 2020 - to come out and pump the water away. Residents have also resorted to makeshift pumps of their own design.

This current incident follows on from previous problems late last year that led to the start of a campaign by Oswestry Town Councillor James Owen, supported by Oswestry MP Helen Morgan.

James Owen, Oswestry Town Councillor for Cambrian ward, said, “At this point it is nothing short of an utter failure that residents are being forced to pay themselves for services that, back in 2020, Shropshire Council provided to them.

“These residents have once again had to make the extremely difficult decision to fork out £150 per hour, after already having to do so previously in October. That is during a cost-of-living crisis and to pay for something which fundamentally needs to be sorted out by Shropshire Council."

Helen Morgan, MP for North Shropshire, added, "Residents shouldn't be forced to shell out thousands for a job that the council should be doing themselves. Clearly the only way to progress this issue is an approach led by the local authority, which both residents of Guinevere Close and all those who use Gobowen Road are crying out for.

"I've written to Shropshire Council again today to express my concerns and demand a long-term solution for residents."