Cambridge residents who took to Facebook about the impact of leaves on the town’s streets following heavy weekend rain, are at odds with Waipā District Council’s take on the situation.
“I’m surprised council hasn’t had a couple of trailer loads of leaves deposited at their main offices, courtesy of disgruntled ratepayers. Cambridge ‘the town of trees and fallen leaves’,” said one Facebook user.
But in a statement to the News, the council said a Cambridge East leaf collection took place last Friday, only hours before heavy rain fell. Leamington was “looking tidy”, it said.
Once the rain came, the leaves throughout the town blocked drains and created lakes on roads and footpaths.
Stormwater engineers said they had no issues or damage to the stormwater network in either Leamington or Cambridge East over the weekend, or any requests for maintenance or repairs following the weekend’s heavy downpours.
“Heavy downpours can take some time to dissipate into the stormwater network, so some surface flooding isn’t uncommon to see following heavy rain events.” The council said it hoped to be able to collect sodden leaves as soon as possible.
The News took to Facebook for comments from residents. One user said she cleaned out both drains on Shakespeare St, either side of Baxter Place on Saturday afternoon to clear the ‘lake’.
Another said she walked around Cambridge every day and the storm water drains were all covered in leaves.
The News also asked for those who had rain gauges to send us details of how much rain fell. If the responses are a guide, many need to check their accuracy as responses ranged from 35-82mm.
Tell us what you think about Cambridge, Town of Leaves and blocked drains. Email [email protected] or head to our Facebook page.
