Yesterday’s heavy rainfall caused serious flooding on Kilburn Park Road and Shirland Road in Maida Vale leaving dozens of basement flats uninhabitable. Flood water rising from the sewers reached as high as three feet in some homes. Residents’ furniture and bedding was ruined and many treasured possessions destroyed. This comes despite a £17m flood prevention scheme by Thames Water which built two giant reservoirs – at Westbourne Green and Tamplin Gardens – specifically to contain the risk of sewer flooding.

Councillor Geoff Barraclough, Maida Vale Ward, said:

“It was heart-breaking to see residents piling their water-logged possessions in the street. In the short-term we have been in touch with Westminster Housing and Notting Hill Genesis demanding action to help their tenants cope with the damage and disruption. Longer term, we need answers about how this was allowed to happen. It’s clear that the expensive new flood defences failed and we need to know why. This can’t be allowed to happen again.”