Road Drain clearance

Stoke St Mary volunteers completed the first road drain clearance activity at the end of September, with a volunteer party comprising Roy Rogers and Graeme Watt.  They cleared drains and ditch inlet channels on the stretch of Stoke Road from the junction with Ashe Road to the end of the Stoke St Mary 30mph limit, towards Taunton.

Three of the drains we tackled were completely hidden under soil and grass but are now clear, and the soil sumps of all accessible drains have been dug out. One drain (in front of Higher Broughton Farm) was too blocked for us to deal with, and has been reported to Somerset Council as an issue for them.

We will be contacting the two other parish members who have emailed the Parish Council to volunteer, as we plan future volunteer events to cover all the road drains in November.  We would welcome further volunteers for this, and other volunteer activities, as Somerset Council stops doing much of this type of work due to lack of funding.  Anyone willing to volunteer, please email Graeme at cllr.graeme.watt@stokestmaryparish.gov.uk