Homeowner’s frustration over drainage saga

By Miranda Robertson

A village homeowner says he has been left angry and frustrated after Dorset Council refused to fix a highways drainage problem he claims has caused his home to flood twice.

Oliver Chisholm, a former councillor who lives in Oborne, near Sherborne, and who runs a vintage toy business in the town, first complained to the council in 2017.

He says gravel and mud is frequently washed into a grid at a junction, which then clogs an exit pipe near his home, causing his home to flood.

At first when he complained officers told him something would be done to stop the problem. Nothing was done and two years later the council offered him £1,500 towards the £3,000 cost of the work, which he refused, saying the problem was caused by an issue outside his property, on council land and was therefore the full responsibility of the council.

Subsequent appeals have led to the council banning Mr Chisholm from contacting officers and councillors directly about the issue. Mr Chisholm went to the

Ombudsman, however they ruled against him, believing the problem was within his private drainage system, as the council insisted. But Mr Chisholm has reports from three independent drainage companies which tell a different story. He said: “The council’s response to my complaint is they will only respond to legal proceedings now, which I have been warned could be around £50,000.

“I am 80 years old and cannot afford to take that route.”

A spokesman for Dorset Council said: “No comment.”