A HEREFORD dad is having to put down sandbags to stop rising water – despite living some distance from the nearest river or stream.

Hans Baranzeck, 31, said flash flooding became a problem when a large tree was removed from a neighbouring property in Charlton Avenue, Newton Farm.

Since then, he claims excess water has run down into their garden from the nearby Great Western Way.

He constantly has to use sandbags to absorb the water and has taken up the problem with Herefordshire Council and MP Jesse Norman.

Mr Baranzeck, who is married to 29-year-old Amy, said: “We paid £115,000 for this house and haven’t got the full use of our garden.

Because I am a private home owner it feels like I have been fobbed off for five years and I’m staying up until midnight sending emails with photos.”

Herefordshire Council said Balfour Beatty Living Places is aware there are historical concerns with garden flooding at the rear of Mr Baranzeck’s property – which appear to have been exacerbated after the removal of an established tree.

“The garden is lower than the Great Western Way and so water drains on to it.

There are indications that water is moving through the railway ballast in the embankment,” the statement said, “There is also some surface water run-off from highway land.

“We hold a duty to investigate the groundwater flooding but would not be able to resolve it. We have designed a solution to help reduce surface water run-off along Great Western Way.

“The implementation of the highway drainage scheme alone will not entirely resolve the issue of garden flooding because water is also moving through the ground.”

The statement added that all enquiries regarding drainage matters are considered, inspected and assessed against a number of risk factors including impact on the highway, safety issues, social impact and risk to property.