By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
Gloucester councillor Alastair Chambers was told he was “out of order” after telling a council chief to “get a backbone” amid accusations floodstricken residents were being “lied to” over how often their streets are being swept.
The heated row erupted at Gloucester City Council’s meeting on North Warehouse over flooding in Baneberry Road on November 21.
The public gallery was packed at the start of the meeting with several residents who had come along to hear Cllr Chambers (CI, Matson, Robinswood and White City) present a petition signed by 268 people calling for a solution to the flooding problem.
However, most left decrying it was a “waste of time” shortly after hearing assurances from environment cabinet member Sebastian Field (LD, Podsmead) that their street is swept regularly by Ubico.
These comments were met with disbelief and disagreement in the public gallery.
Cllr Chambers, in putting forward a motion calling for an urgent review of their road sweeping schedule and drain maintenance around Matson, Robinswood, and White City, criticised a “lack of road sweeping”.
He said the drains are so clogged with leaves and rubbish that they are becoming “urban ponds”.
He went on to recite the Doctor Foster Went to Gloucester nursery rhyme.
“That’s what’s happening, no-one is coming here again because this city is failing and leaving a mess,” he said.
“Families and elderly people are watching their homes flood.
“Their carpets are soggy, their furniture is floating and their blood pressure is sky high. The council says in written answers that they sweep the roads.
“You’ve heard from concerned residents that they felt the council ignored them and they walked out.
“If you disagree with them, are you calling those 20 residents who gave up their time today liars?
“That’s what you’re doing as a cabinet member for the environment and that is very disappointing.
“They are not liars, they are people whose homes have been sodden and ruined as a direct result of this council.”
Cllr Field said he had endured “quite a lot” from Cllr Chambers that evening.
“I think that’s beyond the pale,” he said.
“I have said nothing of the sort about those residents. I would have been very happy to have met with them and talked with them.
“But I wasn’t given that opportunity because of all the shouting from the public gallery, encouraged by Cllr Chambers. I find it unacceptable.”
Cllr Chambers replied that his point still stands.
“Please go and see these residents and speak to them about what you’re going to do. And actually get a backbone,” he said.
Councillor Adrian Graham (CI, Matson, Robinswood and White City) told the meeting two residents are selling their homes due to the flooding issue.
He also said road sweeping every two weeks does not take place.
“If it does, I would like to see a report on when it took place,” he said.
Cllr Field said the Ubico streetsweepers are tracked. He said there is an issue with the Severn Trent sewage drainage.
“During heavy rain any runoff collected by the gulleys is unable to drain away as the sewer is full,” he said.
Cllr Terry Pullen (L, Moreland) said he was incensed by the word “liar” and the words “get a back bone”. “This cabinet member, irrespective of politics, is doing the best they can as they all are.
“Councillor Chambers, tone your language. Consider the principles. You are out of order.”
Cllr Pullen said he assumed Cllr Chambers would be taking a similar motion to the County Council to address their responsibility of looking after the roads.
Council leader Jeremy Hilton (LD, Kingsholm and Wotton) accused Cllr Chambers of attempting to “gaslight others about a problem caused quite clearly by the Severn Trent drainage system being old and inadequate”.
He said he had a similar issue in Kingsholm and raised it with Severn Trent and got £11m improvement rather than “attacking the cabinet member at the City Council”.
“What they are doing is a very lazy motion to blame the City Council. They are not prepared to engage and persuade Severn Trent to do something about their drainage system.
“Secondly, we have not seen a motion to the County Council asking them to make sure the gulleys are cleaned.”
Councillor Andy Lewis (C, Quedgeley Severn Vale) said most streets in Gloucester had an issue with drainage because it’s an old system.
He said it was up to Severn Trent to sort out. He told the council to let the residents know when the street was swept.
“The gulleys are not adequate. It’s a problem for the residents of Baneberry Road, they’re between a rock and a very wet place.
“It’s not the cabinet member’s fault. He’s doing the best he can.”
A Severn Trent spokesperson said: “Gloucester City Council have made us aware of surface water flooding issues that are occurring.
“While we’re not aware of any issues with our network, we’re supporting their investigation into the cause.”
A spokesperson for Gloucestershire County Council said they clear more than 130,000 drains every year and encourage residents to report any issues via Fix My Street .
A spokesperson said: “Alongside partners we work hard on keeping gullies and drains clear across Gloucestershire, as well as working on long term flood alleviation schemes in regularly impacted areas.
“We clear more than 130,000 drains every year, and would encourage residents to report any blocked drains at https://fixmystreet.gloucestershire.gov.uk .”