Recurring concern

Inadequate drainage control of hazardous surface water on public routes

First to latest report 17 Sep 2013 — 21 May 2024

Reports that mention this concern
12
Times this concern has been raised
16
Stated actions linked to this concern
33

What this concern includes

Includes failures or hazards involving inadequate drainage, runoff control or related remedial measures that leave public pedestrian paths, roads or carriageways with recurring hazardous surface water, including the anchor's pooled water at the base of steps and comparable road flooding, spillage or pooling.

What is not included
  • Excludes the existing narrower concern limited to public-road street drainage where the assertion does not support the broader public-route surface-water condition.
  • Excludes generic highway maintenance, path-surface or road-condition deficiencies where hazardous surface water or drainage is not identified.
  • Excludes flooding or water hazards in buildings, premises, waterways or other settings that are not public pedestrian or vehicular routes.
  • Excludes isolated wet-weather slipperiness where no recurring pooling, spillage, flooding or deficient drainage control is identified.

Reports and published responses 12 reports

See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response

  1. Cumbria (North & West)

    AI-generated summary

    Michael John Telford · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    On 6 December 2012, Michael John Telford was driving on the B5302 when another vehicle entered his carriageway after travelling through floodwater and collided with his car. Evidence at the inquest indicated that water spilling onto the road was a regular hazard, with concern that further accidents might occur if the issue was not addressed.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Regular water spillage onto the B5302 creating a road hazard

    Wider context from the report

    “Evidence given at the inquest revealed that water spilling onto the B5302 near Wheyrigg Hall on the road to Abbeytown was a regular hazard. The presence of the water resulted in an accident on the 6th December 2012. The position is likely to be exacerbated in freezing weather. The concern is that if this matter is not addressed further accidents may occur. (Plan attached). ”

    Source location

    Michael John Telford · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 1 · concerns

    Open source report

  2. Exeter & Greater Devon

    AI-generated summary

    Luke James LYONS · Prevention of Future Deaths report

    This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

    Report summary

    Luke James Lyons died at the scene of a road accident on 25 January 2013 after his vehicle hit overnight black ice on the A396. The area was affected by water flowing across the road, which washed away salt, and information indicated that a subsequently installed drain may have been inadequate.

    Read the report on judiciary.uk

    Source evidence

    How this individual concern was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Inadequate drainage to prevent water crossing the road and washing away road gritting

    Wider context from the report

    “I received evidence that the area in question was subject to water egress from the land at the side of the road which flowed from the higher ground across the road, thereby washing away any salt gritting put down by the Highway Department in anticipation of bad weather. It was clear that procedures were followed, gritting undertaken which it was anticipated would have satisfied the need for gritting in the area in question in the absence of the localised water problem. I received evidence that a number of vehicles going through this area also lost control despite the gritting but had managed to counteract the loss of control. I understand that the Highways Department have since placed a drain at the location in order to combat the problem but it appears that it is inadequate (from information received from ████████ of Devon and Cornwall Constabulary). Clearly a repetition of Luke’s death in the forthcoming winter would be a disaster if it could be avoided by further action. ”

    Source location

    Luke James LYONS · Prevention of Future Deaths report
    Page 1 · concerns

    Open source report

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Undertake further weather-response treatments on the A396 in support of precautionary winter gritting routes.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “In tandem with the special treatments taken on the A396 last winter and in support of the treatments undertaken throughout our precautionary gritting routes, Devon County Council will undertake further treatments in support of the response to the weather conditions.”

    Source location

    2013-0203-Response-by-Devon-County-Council
    Page 1 · response
    Published 17 September 2013

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Use drainage features and best-practice measures within the 2013/14 winter maintenance approach.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “Our plans for the 2013/14 winter period therefore include the use of the drainage features and best practice and we will continue to use our inspection process and intelligence gathering to inform our approach. We will also use the media to communicate this information to travellers.”

    Source location

    2013-0203-Response-by-Devon-County-Council
    Page 2 · response
    Published 17 September 2013

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Continue inspections, intelligence gathering and risk assessment to inform responses to severe weather and drainage conditions.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “As you noted within the letter, the flooding on the A396, with water practically spilling onto the road, was a result of the conditions and would be difficult to predict. Our staff seeing this road and were thought to be proportionate to the predicted conditions. Our configuration of the road, together with the conditions at the time, meant that, for the most part, water was not going over the centre of the carriageway. The issues on sight lines, public, and our inspections have not noted recurring drainage issues. This further suggests that any water on the carriageway will be picked up and removed from the carriageway, before the saturated water flows above the carriageway. We accept the types of weather events to repeat in future and our inspections and risk assessment will continue to respond to this.”

    Source location

    2013-0203-Response-by-Devon-County-Council
    Page 1 · response
    Published 17 September 2013

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Complete works at the A396 junction and review drainage management at that location.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “Since the incident involving Mr Lyons, we have undertaken work at the junction of the A396 and have reviewed the way in which drainage is managed at this location. We have also reviewed the winter service arrangements over the winter period, and these support measures will continue throughout the coming winter.”

    Source location

    2013-0203-Response-by-Devon-County-Council
    Page 2 · response
    Published 17 September 2013

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent action was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Communicate the commitment to fit-for-purpose winter maintenance work and improve communication and management of drainage features among relevant staff.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “The commitment to ensuring that the work has been fit for purpose and helps to prepare us for a level of inspection for this location, following our winter maintenance routes and procedures, has been communicated to all relevant staff. This will include improved communication and management of the drainage features.”

    Source location

    2013-0203-Response-by-Devon-County-Council
    Page 2 · response
    Published 17 September 2013

    Open published response

    Source evidence

    How this respondent position was interpreted

    PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

    PFD Monitor interpretation

    Flooding at the A396 was difficult to predict, and inspections had not identified recurring drainage issues at the location.

    Verbatim wording from the response

    “As you noted within the letter, the flooding on the A396, with water practically spilling onto the road, was a result of the conditions and would be difficult to predict. Our staff seeing this road and were thought to be proportionate to the predicted conditions. Our configuration of the road, together with the conditions at the time, meant that, for the most part, water was not going over the centre of the carriageway. The issues on sight lines, public, and our inspections have not noted recurring drainage issues. This further suggests that any water on the carriageway will be picked up and removed from the carriageway, before the saturated water flows above the carriageway. We accept the types of weather events to repeat in future and our inspections and risk assessment will continue to respond to this.”

    Source location

    2013-0203-Response-by-Devon-County-Council
    Page 1 · response
    Published 17 September 2013

    Open published response

Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.

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Data last updated 7 September 2026