OLD Swan Lane has now been closed to vehicles after flooding worsened during Storm Chandra, with emergency access opened through the Mill Road roadworks, East Sussex Highways has confirmed.
The move means residents of Millwood Park and Lion House Park are no longer being forced to drive through floodwater, following days of confusion and concern over access to and from their homes.
The closure follows heavy rainfall which caused floodwater to return to Old Swan Lane despite recent ditch-clearing work by East Sussex Highways. The road had remained passable until conditions deteriorated further, prompting the decision to shut it on safety grounds.
Earlier this week, roadworks on Mill Road for electricity works had diverted traffic onto Old Swan Lane, despite rising water levels. Residents warned this created a dangerous situation, particularly for elderly and vulnerable people, and said access arrangements were unclear.
East Sussex Highways had recently cleared ditches along Old Swan Lane in response to complaints, but the road flooded again after just one night of heavy rain, highlighting what residents and councillors say is a deeper, unresolved drainage problem.
Local councillor Steve Murphy says the flooding is caused by a complex drainage system involving multiple agencies, making long-term solutions difficult to implement.
He explained that while East Sussex Highways is responsible for the road, the watercourse responsible for the flooding runs across land owned by Southern Water, near its sewage treatment works off Station Road.
Highways officers have visited the site several times, installing flood boards, closing the road when necessary and clearing ditches. However, investigations into blockages further along the watercourse have been limited, as they fall outside the highways authority’s equipment and remit.
The Environment Agency has confirmed it cannot intervene, as the watercourse is not classed as a Main River. Responsibility is therefore shared between East Sussex County Council as the Lead Local Flood Authority, Southern Water, and the Pevensey and Cuckmere Water Level Management Board, which manages downstream water levels.
Cllr Murphy said Southern Water has now agreed to an on-site meeting with East Sussex County Council’s Flood Risk Team to inspect the watercourse and assess what further action is needed.
“There are so many agencies involved in this issue and it’s very frustrating getting anything done,” he said.
Residents welcomed the closure of Old Swan Lane and the reopening of access via Mill Road, but say the wider flooding problem remains unresolved and fear the situation will repeat during future storms.
Meanwhile, the Environment Agency has issued a flood warning for the Cuckmere River and Bull River at Hellingly & Horsebridge (including Mill Lane, Station Road and the A271 at Lower Horsebridge), as rain continues.
Police closed the A271 Upper Horsebridge Road this morning (27 January) due to flooding near to the Cuckoo Trail entrance.
Flooding has been reported in Horsebridge, Grove Hill, Helllingly and Ersham Road areas of town this morning.
