RESIDENTS have vented their frustration at “dangerous” flooding on a busy Southampton Road.

They say they have contacted Southampton City Council several times over the last nine months about the issue on Millbrook Road West.

As reported, the area is prone to flood after heavy rain.

Elmes Drive resident Terry Munday, a retired electrician, said he has phoned the council four times over the last year.

The 72 year old said: “It’s so annoying. The water gets right up the side of the cars. It’s dangerous – people have to walk along the road to get through.

“It happens every time it rains.”

Mill Road residents Richard and Susan Rouse said they couldn’t take their usual do walking route when the water covered the pavement. Richard said: “We can’t get through that way. We have to go all the way round the back. It floods the subway as well.”

But city roads chief Councillor Jacqui Rayment said there was an “ongoing investigation” into the issue and the council was working with Southern Water and ABP.

She added: “The issue seems to be with two large sewers connecting into a sewer with a smaller pipe diameter – hence the manholes pop under pressure and flood the road once capacity within the sewer is filled up. Some of the infrastructure belongs to Southern Water and some is on port land. The potential solution could be complex, very costly and possibly limited due to the constraints of the main railway line to the south and the major city route, either of which would need to be closed for some time for works should upsizing the sewer be an option.

“In the interim we have enhanced CCTV presence in the area to enable us to monitor the road, respond quicker and notify road users faster.

A spokesperson for Southern Water apologised to residents and added: “During intense downpours such as we have experienced over the last few days, localised flooding can be an issue.

“In some cases this takes a little time to subside and drain through the road gullies and surface water sewers.

“Once storm run-off and waste water reaches our nearby treatment works, we are confident that we have sufficient pumping capacity to deal with all but the most truly exceptional events.

“We are working with all the other parties towards a long term solution.”

ABP did not respond to the Echo’s request for comment.