FLOODING has returned to a busy Colchester road six months after engineers thought they had solved the problem.

Essex Highways completed gully cleansing works in Cowdray Avenue in March.

The flooding hotspot, which is next to Colne View Retail Park - home to Halfords, Pets At Home, Aldi and DFS - has been a problem for years.

When the westbound carriageway floods, vehicles are forced to use the outside lane to avoid the water.  

Recent - another image of the recent floodingRecent - another image of the recent flooding (Image: Public) There has been a number of attempts to solve the issue in the past.

Action was taken by council workers in 2022 trying to remedy the problem by unblocking drains in the area with heavy machinery.

Sir Bob Russell, Colchester’s High Steward, even called for Essex Highways and Anglian Water “to bring forward a solution to the flooding” in 2021.

Castle ward councillor Mark Goacher believes the area “needs urgent attention again”.

He said: “Perhaps what they have done wasn’t enough to solve the problem.

“I know there has been a lot of rain the past few days. We’re going to get rainier autumns now because of the climate.

Wants more to be done - Councillor Mark GoacherWants more to be done - Councillor Mark Goacher “We really need to address this.

“With the flooding they need to come back and have a proper look at it, and maybe further remedial work.

“I’ve had a few people in the past contact me. Mainly it’s that big patch of flooding but there are problems on the other side of the road as well.

“It is an ongoing issue.”

Not fixed - Essex Highways gully cleansing in Cowdray Avenue in MarchNot fixed - Essex Highways carried out gully cleaning in Cowdray Avenue in March (Image: Steph Nissen) A spokesman for Essex Highways said: “We carry out drain cleaning on all main roads across the county at least once per year.

"This summer, we cleared a total of 24,633 drains, helping the road network withstand harsh conditions in autumn.

“Drainage on Cowdray Avenue in Colchester was cleared in March 2024, with an additional gulley installed in September 2024.

"However, following heavy rainfall, it can take some time for increased water levels to drain.

“We can carry out additional cleansing and jetting when issues are reported to us. We therefore encourage residents to get in touch through our Tell Us webpage at essexhighways.org/tell-us."