Saeid Hedayat
2 Oct 2019 · Coroner Robert Simpson · West Sussex
The coroner's concerns
1. blocked drain zone 1 causing road flooding
“West Sussex County Council's risk assessment which was carried out to determine drain clearance frequency did not take any account of zone 1 blockages and I heard evidence that there is no time period set for reviewing the risk assessments. I heard evidence that the risk levels have not been reviewed since 2011 despite more recent data being available.”
2. lack of trigger for risk assessment review
“neither anomalous silt level reports nor reports from members of the public of road flooding would trigger a review of the risk assessments”
3. absence of reassessment plans for drain risk
“The highways authority representative at the inquest was not able to inform me of what plans West Sussex County Council has to reassess the drain risk levels in light of the increased severity of winter storms”
4. missing warning signs for flood risk
“drain numbered B9913 was blocked on a regular basis due to debris and silt collecting in zone 1. There are no warning signs (temporary or permanent) drawing drivers' attention to the flood risk despite this”