A COUNCIL is continuing to investigate the cause of flooding in a road where businesses have been out of work for days.

Business went down the drain for companies in Haven Road, in the Hythe, on the first few days of the new year.

The road is notorious for flooding due to water levels, and Essex County Council is taking action to investigate.

A county council spokesman said: “Essex County Council flood team is working together with partners including Essex Highways, the Environment Agency and Colchester Council to identify and rectify causes of flooding in the area.

"At present we believe one of the reasons for the flooding is uncontrolled water discharge from the Distillery Lane pond.

“Work we plan to undertake includes re-lining and restoring a currently defective sewer and replacing manhole covers in the area. We are aiming to deliver this scheme by April."

Businesses are pleased action is being taken, but are not convinced working on the sewers will help solve the problem.

Andrew Wynne, who owns Velvis Cars, has lost out of days of business and the company is unable to display the top cars at the front of the showroom.

Mr Wynne said: "The council don’t care, if they did they would offer some sort of rates relief for us and a few other businesses.

"Although I would rather have a fully operational unit it would be some sort of gesture. It’s the same old thing to be honest, nothing will get sorted.

"Over the two years we have been here the council will have taken £36,000 in business rates and we have to suffer the constant flooding.

"This is the crux of my frustration."

Bob Bloomfield, finance director at Vaughan and Blyth, said he was pleased to see the council agreed there was a problem, but he was concerned about the works they are proposing as he owns some of the buildings in Haven Road.

He said: "We have owned industrial units on Haven Road since the late 70s and are fully aware of issues with flooding we have experienced over the last 10 to 15 years.

"After many years of negotiating with the combined agencies we eventually managed to get them to admit the one way flap in the quayside that was connected to the storm drain was broken and needed repairing.

"All agencies knew this was only half the problem as they also needed to stop the surface water drain from overflowing into the road when the flap was closed. They have buried their heads in the sand on this, hoping it would go away, but we knew it wouldn’t.

"Our tenants need action now as they can't access their buildings and are losing trade."