The deputy leader of Pendle Council has called for action after eight incidents of flooding on roads across the West Craven area of the borough after heavy rain earlier this week.
Earby and Coates ward’s Cllr David Whipp wants Lancashire County Council to speed up work such as drainage maintenance to tackle the problem.
The North West was hit by floods following heavy rain on New Year’s Eve into New Year’s Day which caused numerous rivers to burst their banks and even caused a canal in Cheshire to collapse.
Cllr Whipp, the leader of the Pendle Liberal Democrat group, is to raise the issue at the borough’s West Craven Committee when it meets on Tuesday.
He has emailed Lancashire County Council and North Yorkshire Council to alert them to the latest flooding problems affecting the area.
Cllr Whipp said: “It’s been a very wet welcome to 2025! Fortunately, flood defences in Earby weren’t seriously tested by the heavy rain.
“My hope for 2025 is that we can move forward with creating upstream storage on Wentcliffe Beck to reduce the risk of flooding in Water Street, which remains the most vulnerable part of Earby.
“Meanwhile, the [wider] area has been badly affected by flooding on roads.
“In most cases, these issues could be dealt with through drainage improvements or just basic maintenance work.
“Lancashire County Council is well aware of these problems.
“It just needs to pull its finger out and take the simple steps needed to resolve them.
“Flooding is a serious problem for the towns and villages of West Craven and the A56 main road from Colne across the South Pennines to the A59.
“Flooding in the dip in Bracewell Lane, B6251at Bracewell near Barnoldswick is avoidable.
“The watercourse is culverted under the road.
“By improving drains and upsizing gulleys, water could discharge into the watercourse.
“The flooding in Barnoldswick Road, Blacko, below the Cross Gaits, was around 45cm [18 inches] deep on New Year’s Eve, and effectively impassable.
“This is happening all too regularly.
“There was flooding in Brogden Lane, Barnoldswick, adjacent to the new development which is part of repeated flooding at this location.
“This should be sortable with co-operation from the developers.
“Flooding in the A56, Skipton Road, Earby near the Punch Bowl, was caused by the culvert opposite pub not taking water. I suspect a choked culvert which may be not big enough. This is a regular problem.
“There is a persistent problem with flooding on the B6252 at Ghyll on Skipton Road Barnoldswick on the county boundary with North Yorkshire.
“The highway drain discharges into a culverted watercourse beneath the road.
“The problem is compounded by water surcharging from North Yorkshire highway drain at Nutter Cote.
“There’s been a fatality at this location due to surface water.
“There has also been flooding from two systems in Salterforth Road, Earby: a Yorkshire Water combined sewer and a gulley are connected to a Lancashire County Council culvert (recently cleared of blockages).
“There has been repeated flooding on the A56 Sough bend.
“Water is surcharging from the manhole lid in the foreground and the ironwork in the kerb.
“There’s a significant risk of a collision on the bend, as vehicles go onto the opposite carriageway to avoid the water. Or, alternatively, plough into the water at speed.”
Cllr Whipp has also raised flooding in Church Lane, Thornton-in-Craven, with the nearby North Yorkshire Council.
Cllr Rupert Swarbrick, cabinet member for Highways and Transport, Lancashire County Council, said: “As a Lead Local Flood Authority, we are responsible for developing and implementing flood risk management strategies, maintaining and improving drainage systems, and coordinating with various agencies to ensure effective response and recovery efforts.
“We take this role extremely seriously and we also engage with local communities to raise awareness about flood risks and provide guidance on preparedness measures.
“We are aware that the West Craven Area committee of Pendle Borough Council is due to discuss flood defence measures in Earby at its upcoming meeting.
“We await the outcome of that meeting and will continue to work with our partners around this important issue.”