Many residents, particularly those who gallantly walk their children to the Four Lanes schools from the "wrong" side of Thornhill Way, are exasperated about the ongoing flood problem near the location where Cufaude Lane crosses Thornhill Way, near Chineham Village Hall.

Whilst Hampshire Highways were notified about three months ago, a sense of urgency has been absent meaning that South East Water have not been pursuing their obligation to stem the water wastage.

Seemingly, the leak is located on neighbouring private property and the water company must rightly obtain permission to access the land. There has not been any persistent action to gain this permission and thus the shameful flooding continues. Equally, the footpath surface is not cambered correctly and so the water which should normally be flowing away irrespective of the leak remains as a nuisance.

Hampshire Highways have undertaken to rectify this latter problem once the leak is stemmed, but who knows when this ridiculous situation will be taken sufficiently seriously by those legally responsible for conserving our precious water?