Recurring concern

Inadequate drainage control of hazardous surface water on public routes

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First reported 17 Sep 2013•Latest report 21 May 2024

Definition

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.

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: 12
Individual concerns: 16
Date range: 2013–2024
Stated actions: 33

Reports over time

Reports about this concern issued each year.

* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.

Most frequent recipients

Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.

Cornwall Council2

Cambridgeshire County Council1

Cumberland Council1

Cumbria County Council1

Denbighshire County Council1

Devon County Council1

Devon Highways1

Dorset Council1

Gloucestershire County Council1

National Highways1

West Sussex County Council1

Concerns and responses across reports

Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

3 Feb2014
Cumbria (North & West)
Concerns raised1
1. Regular water spillage onto the B5302 creating a road hazard
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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
17 Sep2013
Exeter & Greater Devon
Concerns raised1
1. Inadequate drainage to prevent water crossing the road and washing away road gritting
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response 5
1. Action
  Undertake further weather-response treatments on the A396 in support of precautionary winter gritting routes.
  Stated by Devon County CouncilStated planned
2. Action
  Use drainage features and best-practice measures within the 2013/14 winter maintenance approach.
  Stated by Devon County CouncilStated planned
3. Action
  Continue inspections, intelligence gathering and risk assessment to inform responses to severe weather and drainage conditions.
  Stated by Devon County CouncilStated in progress
1. Action
  Complete works at the A396 junction and review drainage management at that location.
  Stated by Devon County CouncilStated completed
2. Action
  Communicate the commitment to fit-for-purpose winter maintenance work and improve communication and management of drainage features among relevant staff.
  Stated by Devon County CouncilStated in progress
Respondent positions 1
1. Position
  Flooding at the A396 was difficult to predict, and inspections had not identified recurring drainage issues at the location.
  Stated by Devon County CouncilDisputes the concern
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

Data last updated 7 September 2026

What this concern includes

Not included

Reports over time

Concerns raised1

Regular water spillage onto the B5302 creating a road hazard

Concerns raised1

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

Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5

Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1

Actions described in response 5

Respondent positions 1