VICTIMS of recent flooding in Cherry Way and Southview Rise are keeping their fingers crossed this week as experts set about an in-depth investigation of the local land drainage system.

They are hoping that district council engineers will be able to find a solution to the heartache and misery caused by constant flooding from fields above Southview Rise - flooding which has recently left two families homeless and a trail of devastation which has touched the lives of many more.

Those affected gathered at Alton Community Centre last Thursday to try and thrash out a solution to the problem. Convened by Cherry Way resident Ian Young and chaired by Luath Grant Ferguson, the aim was for all interested parties "to work together as good neighbours to try and sort things out."

Also at the meeting were Anne and Malcolm Snowdon who, like Ian and Cathy Young, have had to be temporarily rehoused while their own homes are dried out and the damage made good.

Residents first established that this was a long-term problem. One couple who had lived in the area for the past 30 years said that flooding was a regular occurence with properties at Vine Close and the lower part of Southview Rise bearing the brunt of the water before Cherry Way was built. They said it had been made clear to developers at the time that they were building across a flood channel but nobody had taken any notice.

Mr Grant Ferguson confirmed that the old Alton Urban District Council, as the local planning authority alongside Hampshire County Council, had given consent for the development in 1968. The land, he said, had previously been cultivated as hop fields. He thought that early on a land drainage system had been installed to drain the area towards the river at Flood Meadows, although no record could be found to chart its course.

Representing East Hampshire District Council as the land drainage authority, engineer Keith Robinson explained that the flood water was draining off grassland owned since April last year by Alton Town Council, but formerly owned by Wimpey. The lower field was taking additional water from a cultivated field higher up the hill farmed by Richard James and owned by long-term investment company, Fowley International Limited of London.

The engineer explained that where the profile of a sloping field remained unaltered and without the installation of man-made drainage, the lower field has to accept water draining from that field.

In this case, water draining from Mr James' field was draining on to town council grassland which did have a drainage ditch running along the side of the field and down hill into a large soakaway, located at the top of Oakdene. It is this system which is to come under critical investigation by the sewer team, who will be using CCT cameras to investigate a covered section to ascertain whether it is blocked and, if in working condition, it has the capacity to drain the area properly.

Once this is established, and if by clearing the system it is likely to provide a long-term solution to the flooding problem, Mr Robinson pointed out that future maintenance would be essential. As the new landowners, Mr Robinson confirmed that Alton Town Council had agreed to fulfil this obligation.

However, if the capacity of the system was seen to be inadequate or if it was at any time exceeded by rainfall, he warned, "flooding would happen again." As a worst case scenario, the district council had already looked at opening up a land drainage system to take excess water down to Flood Meadows but that, said Mr Robinson, would cost in the region of £1.5 million.

One suggestion from the public was the installation of an integrated flood surge or 'balancing' system which would involve the sinking of a giant fibreglass holding tank to take excess water which could then be drained away at a later date. This too could be considered.