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'It's crucial we mitigate risk of flooding to town'

George KingSuffolk
Jacob Ottaway/BBC A white Mercedes and a black BMW attempting to drive through flood water in Ipswich.Jacob Ottaway/BBC
Motorists attempting to drive through flood water on Tuesday

Ipswich's MP has called for an "immediate inspection" of the town's surface drainage infrastructure after flash flooding caused traffic chaos this week.

The town came to a grinding halt on Tuesday as intense rainfall left motorists stranded in water and buses and emergency services vehicles having to be diverted.

Alnesbourne Crescent, Fore Street, Holywells Road, Maidenhall Approach, Nacton Road, Ransomes Way, Rope Walk, Spring Road and Wherstead Road were affected.

MP Jack Abbott has called on Anglian Water and Suffolk County Council to take steps to ensure the chaos does not happen again.

UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Reuters A man speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons. He is wearing a navy suit over a white shirt with a colourful tie.UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Reuters
MP Jack Abbott has demanded that Ipswich's drainage networks are improved

In a letter to the water company's CEO, Mark Thurston, he said it was "crucial" the town drainage infrastructure was "working at full capacity" to mitigate flood risks.

He called on the firm to identify all areas in Ipswich that were affected on Tuesday and to review whether the drainage in those areas worked properly.

Abbott also urged Anglian Water to increase capacity in areas where the drainage systems were working as expected but were still overwhelmed.

In a letter to new county council leader Michael Hadwen, Abbott said such weather events were "predicted to become more frequent" due to climate change.

Jacob Ottaway/BBC A blue Ford car and a silver BMW car appear to be motionless in flood water below a railway bridge. In the foreground is a green crocodile inflatable. In the background are some people and houses.Jacob Ottaway/BBC
The heavy rainfall left some motorists – and even an inflatable alligator – stranded

He highlighted that point in response to the Reform UK-led authority's decision to scrap the previous administration's climate change emergency declaration.

"It is not lost on me and others this flooding came on a day where your administration announced it was to repeal measures designed to combat these incidents," Abbott wrote.

He also urged Hadwen to address the issue of what he said was a "significant number" of blocked drains, for which the authority is responsible.

Zoie O'Brien/BBC A town centre junction where much of the road is underwater. There are people standing in the road on one of the dry sections.Zoie O'Brien/BBC
The effect of the torrential rain was felt across Ipswich and elsewhere in Suffolk
John Fairhall/BBC A man wearing a navy suit jacket over a white shirt, and a striped tie and glasses. He is looking away from the camera, to the left of the frame, and appears to be talking.John Fairhall/BBC
Michael Hadwen, leader of Suffolk County Council, said he would review which net-zero schemes offered "clear benefits, practical outcomes or real savings"

Hadwen has previously told the BBC that the declaration of a climate emergency was "political posturing" and suggested reviewing net-zero schemes could save money.

He also described the flooding suffered by Ipswich as being due to a "freak weather event" but said he would look at what could be done to "improve roads and drainage".

Anglian Water, meanwhile, said the flooding was likely related to surface water drainage but that its sewer network was operational and there were no issues with it.

"We'll continue to monitor the situation and liaise with relevant partners," a spokesperson said.

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