Storms Cause Culvert Collapse (from Wiltshire Times)
BICYLCE manufacturers Alex Moulton Bicycles have been left with a hole the size of a Mini at their site after a culvert burst during Monday's storms.
The incident happened at the company's base in Holt Road, Bradford on Avon, at about 4pm following a spell of torrential rain.An overflow of water caused a drain, which runs underneath the Moulton site and into the river Avon, to burst, causing a wave of sewage and debris to surge towards the firm's offices and workshops.
Shaun Moulton, 40, is general manager of Moulton and the great nephew of Dr Alex Moulton, 88, who formed the company in 1962 and designed the suspension for the Mini car in the 1950s.
He said: "It just all piled out of the hole like a mini-tidal wave. I was in a meeting with our accountant at the time and I tried to shut the doors but the water just came hurtling through and straight into the office. It was about four inches deep at one stage.
"It wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't sewage but I've been told that the pumping station hasn't got a filter system. The town is built on a drainage system that is so old it cannot cope."
Mr Moulton said even his great uncle helped to mop out the flood, which also affected their home.
He added: "Wessex Water came down and they basically stood around the hole and said it wasn't their responsibility, but West Wiltshire District Council said they were going to investigate the situation."
Ian Drury, a spokesman for Wessex Water, said: "When there is extreme rainfall Wessex Water is able to discharge wastewater into the water course, a process which is strictly monitored by the Environment Agency.
"However, following the intense rainfall on Monday the underground watercourse, which carries surface water and highway drainage for a large area of Bradford on Avon, struggled to cope with the flow and became defective. This resulted in some flooding around a property.
"Work will need to take place to identify who is responsible for the water course to ensure it is maintained and repaired to prevent future flooding.