In too deep: after weeks without rain, parts of the south of the borough were affected by flooding this week
Thunderstorms and heavy rain this week saw residents seeking high ground to navigate their way round localised flooding.
The exit from Riddlesdown railway station was impassable for pedestrians, especially those arriving home after a day at work.
Although the flooding was nothing like the scale of that which affected Kenley and Purley in 2014, the failure of drains to cope with the downpours is a disappointment and concern for those living in the areas.
Wet walk: access to Riddlesdown Station earlier this week was cut off by rainwater
After a dry April and almost rain-less May, this week’s downpours highlighted the poor levels of maintenance and clearing of Croydon’s gutters and drains – which are mostly the responsibility of the local council.
The Riddlesdown Residents’ Association posted on social media that flooding on Tuesday “… in Lower Barn Road which caused issues for commuters trying to get home on the trains”.
They added: “The RRA [has] notified the council and councillors about this flooding.
“This is disappointing considering all the money the council spent on flood alleviation works a few years ago, at both Lower Barn Road and Mitchley Avenue.
“We have also complained to the council about blocked gully grids in streets higher up.”
Read more: Let the drains take the strain: council acts to avoid flooding
Read more: Kenley and Purley on flood alert as bourne continues to rise
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The dip in the road on Lower Barn Road by Riddlesdown Station always fills up when it rains because of the poorly maintained drains. The same thing occurs on Wallington High Street where the road dips to go under the railway at Wallington Stn (LB of Sutton). The subway under the junction at Purley Cross was deliberately flooded to “store” flood water in the floods of 2014 referred to in the article.