Flood-hit Dartford business plagued by fly-tipping left with hefty bill due to drain repair delays

A businessman has been left counting the cost of pumping water out of his workshop after being flooded for the fifth time in a month.

The factory floors of Dartford Composites have previously been seriously damaged after flooding caused by heavy rainfall.

The specialist fibreglass manufacturer has been trading for more than three decades at its Ness Road premises, just outside the Darent Industrial Park, near Dartford.

It is a major supplier to the rail industry with Southeastern and Transport for London among repeat clients.

But for more than five years, fridges, tyres and other large items dumped in roadside ditches near the River Darent have caused problems.

KentOnline has previously reported how the business and others around it are at risk of closure unless flood prevention works are undertaken and the fly-tipped items cleared.

Mark Silvester, who runs the firm, said flooding has been a long-running issue but it is now worse then ever.

"We have been flooded at varying levels for the last four weeks," he said. "Two weeks ago we finally got the local council and Environment Agency to meet at our factory."

Recent floods have been made worse due to the collapse of a drainage culvert nearby.

The Environment Agency has supplied a large pump free-of-charge, carried out vole surveys where needed and confirmed works can be performed due to the urgency of the situation.

The pump has now been running constantly for the past 200 hours.

But it has left Mr Silvester – and the owners of other companies who have agreed to share the cost – picking up the tab for fuelling the pump at a rate of £80-£90 a day.

It has reduced the ditch level by 12 inches and cleared the field that has been constantly flooded for the last four to six weeks. The tide mark hit 17 inches at its peak.

Mr Silvester added: "The Environment Agency really are stepping up and doing all they can and we are thankful. They know it is a problem for all of us."

But while the business owner is appreciative of the efforts of the flood management body he says there has been a lack of help from Bexley council.

"We are doing what we can," he said. "All we are asking for is a contribution but there is no attempt to help.

"We gave a pay rise to staff last year and will break even this year so they can pay there energy bills but we have not got the funds to be doing things like this.

"But if we waited around for them [the council] we would be floating down the Thames."

To add insult to injury, Mr Silvester says a recent business rates review has seen the cost of keeping his premises has jumped from £45,000 to £66,000.

"There has been no alteration to the building so we don't know where they have got that from," he added. "It makes you not want to be in business."

A recent report from the National Infrastructure Commission, which offers the government advice on infrastructure challenges, has called for up to £12bn of investment in drainage infrastructure over the next 30 years.

It says this is necessary to stop thousands more homes and businesses from flooding due to inadequate drainage.

Bexley council did not respond to a request for comment.

In a response to a previous enquiry, a spokesman said: "We are aware of the flooding difficulties and fly-tipping in the Darent Industrial Estate and the roads leading to it, and we have organised and been involved in many meetings and actions over the past 10 years with representatives from the businesses, landowners, emergency services and the Environment Agency.

"We have also been in direct correspondence with representatives from Dartford Composites in recent years.

"We have supported the area by undertaking some additional clearance of fly-tipping to ease the flow of water along the ditches, and we are working with various representatives and owners to look at options for reducing this type of activity.

"We are also working with the Environment Agency to understand where efforts need to be focussed, and to identify the particular landowner(s) to press for action.”