Taxi stuck in flood as councils could remove bridge
https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/23882 ... ve-bridge/
A road may be raised and a bridge removed to reduce a risk of flooding.
This comes after a photo was taken of a Weyline Taxi trying to make its way down Barrowlands Lane by the Powerstock Bridge in Toller Porcorum.
The picture, captured last week, highlighted the severe flooding to the lane. The driver was spotted trying to find a phone signal.
A spokesperson for the parish council of Toller Porcorum said they have been proactively looking to work with Dorset Council about areas around the village.
Neil Farmer, Chair of the Toller Porcorum parish council said: “We are working in partnership with the Dorset Council Highways team who are brilliant and react to keep gullies and roads clear.
“The issues affecting Toller are no different to those in rural areas with a single-track road.”
Mr Farmer said that the council spent a week earlier this year draining the lane by the bridge but said nothing could have prepared them for the level of flooding: “When you get that volume of water like we got on Thursday then the water has nowhere to go and it overwhelms the road.”
He revealed that there are ongoing talks between the parish council, Dorset Council and Highways England for the possibility of the road on Barrowlands Lane to be raised, reducing the flood risk, but doing this would mean the bridge would have to be removed.
Mr Farmer says that Dorset Council has become more reactive than proactive in recent years. He said: “Before they would empty gullies and cut roadside verges, but now due to the resources made available to them they have become more reactive- but they work well when you ask them.
“I’m not critical of the council because they have to make difficult decisions on so many important issues, but if you don’t ask you don’t get- It is frustrating, but that is local government today,” he added.
Mr Farmer said that Dorset Council spent three weeks last year improving Toller Lane- the main road to Maiden Newton by putting in a larger drain and wider gully to control the flooding.
Dorset Council and Weyline Taxi’s have been approached for comment.
litterally dozens killing their engines