Labour councillors are calling for action to stop the 'flooding crisis' affecting many residents in the Coalville area.

District and county councillors have been campaigning for agencies to work together to manage flood risks and plan for emergencies.  

They describe it as a flooding crisis. During the autumn last year for example, Hugglescote St John's residents experienced a flooding emergency involving foul sewage overflowing into properties for several days.

This was caused by new housing developments using old Victorian sewage pipes which often become overwhelmed.

Labour councillors are urging agencies to work together to end the flooding crisis ahead of a meeting to be held at County Hall on 23 January.

The meeting between officers, local councillors and residents will review the problems with flooding and explore possible solutions. 

Labour councillors say the district council must work with highways, the environment agency, water authorities, housing developers and district planners.

They believe drainage systems are currently overwhelmed and heavy rain, due to climate change, means that the threat of flooding is too common.  

Cllr Sean Sheahan said: "We cannot continue to approach flooding problems with the idea that each agency should deal with their own area of dysfunctional pipework in their own time. 

"This risks more stress being put on the unimproved parts of the system, exposing frailties, leading to a worse overall outcome. When piecemeal improvements make matters worse, a risk-based funding strategy flips on its head. 

"We must take a more comprehensive and sure-footed approach to this. Local residents and representatives are starting to feel let down and we need to see some positive action."

Cllr Terri Eynon said: "Labour councillors are concerned that planning decisions are being driven by developer interests and informed by desk-top data that does not take account of climate change and this is putting our communities at risk. 

"In villages across the district, residents have been promised investment from developers and we are waiting for this money to be released. 

"We cannot pretend that this problem will get better on its own, it will only get worse until we start to work together more effectively."