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A "lake" of muddy water has built up in a field behind a row
of houses in Newlyn and is now seeping through a Cornish hedge and threatening
homes and gardens.
Residents of Chyvellas Close say they are having to keep a daily eye
on the "lake", which first developed last July and has got bigger
and bigger with every downpour.
They are now worried that continuing winter rain will result in it getting
larger and deeper and could even cause the collapse of the retaining wall.
One couple, Janice and Doug Brine, said that the water had started seeping
through the hedge and into their garden, turning their lawn into a bog.
"Our main worry is that the hedge is going to give way and the water
will pour into our property," said Mr Brine.
"During one recent downpour it overflowed into a neighbour's property,
with muddy water pouring down the road like a muddy river."
The couple claim that the water started gathering behind the hedge after
the local farmer removed a hedgerow and de-stoned the field.
"The water started gathering as soon as we had a heavy downpour
last July," said Mr Brine.
"We contacted the council and their officials recommended that the
farmer dig a ditch behind our hedge to drain the water away, which he
did. But this hasn't worked and now we have a huge lake behind the hedge
which hasn't gone down since July."
Mr and Mrs Brine said that they had lived at their present property for
only the past two years.
"We fully appreciate that we are newcomers here and we don't want
to upset anyone, but we are very concerned about the build up of water
behind our garden hedge," said Mrs Brine.
Arthur Roberts, Penwith Council's head of operational services, said
that officers had inspected the site and were arranging a meeting between
the farmers and residents.
"At present there is no law preventing farmers from taking down
hedgerows, but the Environment Agency is currently in talks with the Government
to try to change this," he said. "We are arranging a meeting
between the farmers and residents, but can only offer our advice and expertise
at this stage."
Last year, following extensive flooding at Crowlas, Penwith successfully
negotiated with local farmers and highways' organisations to work together
to prevent flood water coming off farm land and flooding homes and businesses.
article copyright © THE CORNISHMAN
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