CONTRACTORS are on standby to pump water off a busy main road after it had to be closed yet again because of flooding thought to be connected to a massive new 900 home estate.

Northallerton town councillors are calling for action after the A684 Stokesley Road, was closed on Thursday, January 14, and on Wednesday this week. Traffic was diverted through Brompton but there are fears it will lead to accidents.

Hambleton district councillor for Northallerton North and Brompton, Isobel Sanderson asked the council to send a letter to North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC). She said: "No one can deny the flooding affects Northallerton directly. This is only going to be resolved by mediation with NYCC and developers Taylor Wimpey. I have lived in this area all my life, it never used to flood. They built the new houses and it can’t drain off which means the road ends up flooding. It has to be resolved.

"Had we not been in the middle of the pandemic, the volume of traffic going through Brompton would have been awful and there would have been an accident."

Mayor councillor Dave Richardson said: "There is a very real danger, at night especially the road is dark and you can’t see the water until you are on top of it, something needs to be done."

Cllr John Prest said: “Something must have been approved as part of the planning application to get rid of the surface water, the ball is in the developer's court, Taylor Wimpey."

Jayne Charlton, NYCC's highways area manager for Richmondshire and Hambleton, said: "As highway authority and lead flood authority, we take this matter very seriously. We have been working with the developer, Taylor Wimpey North Yorkshire, and Hambleton District Council planning officers for some time to seek a solution to a complex drainage issue that has arisen since the start of the new housing development.

"Officers are due to meet representatives of Taylor Wimpey and Hambleton District Council, as the planning authority, in the next few days with a view to securing a long-term solution.

"In the meantime, the county council will continue to respond quickly to any flooding in this area to keep the road as safe as possible for all users. A local contractor has previously worked on our behalf to pump the water off the road. He is on standby to attend again, if necessary, given this week’s weather warning."

A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey North Yorkshire said: "We’re aware of this problem and are working with the local authority to determine the source of the issue. We have been in dialogue with North Yorkshire County Council regarding this and hope to reach a positive conclusion very soon."