Hollyhurst Road, Wrenbury update - drainage investigation

We have now completed drainage investigation works on Hollyhurst Road, Wrenbury, between the junctions of Hollyhurst Road and Wrenbury Road. The works were successful, and the main causes of the recent flooding have now been identified and fixed.

What We Found

During excavation, we uncovered two key issues:

• A poorly installed junction from a land drain
• A collapsed section of pipe

Both faults were fully repaired at the end of February 2026, and flooding cleared overnight as a result.

Works Completed

We have now:

• Completed the reinstatement
• Emptied and jetted the gullies
• Cleared and swept the road

They also noted recent work undertaken by a local farmer to clear the ditch line, which has significantly improved water flow. We would like to thank those involved for their support.

Next Steps

Although the CCTV survey could not be completed during this visit, it is scheduled to take place between April and June 2026.

We will also:

• Jet this location annually
• Clean the gullies on a bi‑annual rotation

Why the Work Was Needed

Flooding has been a recurring issue at the junction of Hollyhurst Road and Wrenbury Road. Initial works in December 2024 removed heavy silt and debris, which improved conditions temporarily, but flooding returned in December 2025.

Since then, we have:

• Cleared floodwater on multiple occasions
• Exposed a blocked manhole that had restricted jetting
• Carried out additional jetting and CCTV inspections
• Addressed a contributing leak on Hollyhurst Road, repaired by a utility company
• Increased the frequency of gully cleaning in the area

Risk of flooding

The main type of flooding in this area is caused by rainwater that collects on the ground because it can’t drain away fast enough and is called pluvial flooding.

This occurs when intense rainfall overwhelms local drainage systems or exceeds the grounds’ ability to absorb water, which leads to pooling or overland flow. Flooding from surface water can happen anywhere, is hard to predict, and is often worsened in an area with a high concentration of impermeable surfaces.

Further information on the risk of surface water flooding can be accessed on the Government's Environment Agency flood risk map.

If you are concerned about flooding and flood prevention or what to do in a flood, further information is provided on The Flood Hub.

You can report instances of flooding on the highway using our TraCE reporting system.