An intense thunderstorm at 2pm saw almost one month’s rain (3.5cm or 1.4 inches) fall across the borough in an hour. An average of 4.9cm (1.9 inches) of rain normally falls during the whole of June.
Around 2m (6ft 5 inches) of floodwater quickly filled up the low-lying area near the railway bridge at Manor Road in Wallington town centre and the drivers of three cars needed to be rescued.
Sutton Council’s highways contractor was quickly on site and began to pump and lower the amount of floodwater on Manor Road. The Metropolitan Police closed part of the A237 and a Local Authority Liaison Officer co-ordinated with the emergency services to remove the vehicles and clear up after the flooding.
As a Lead Local Flood Authority, Sutton Council is responsible for managing flood risk from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses. The Environment Agency is responsible for flood protection from canals and rivers, and Thames Water is responsible for the drains and sewerage system.
Sutton Council employees have been at Manor Road since Tuesday and all the organisations are continuing to monitor the situation. Plans are in place to identify any ongoing flood risk.