South End Road in South End Green is hit by the floods

• IN your coverage of the “flash floods” the box glossed over some basic issues, (Shops, businesses and streets flooded by torrential rain storm, July 15).

Yes, blocked gullies and the paving over of front gardens can be a contributory factor, as can “climate change”, although these downpours have been causing serious problems in the area for 30 or 40 years at least.

No one mentioned the floods of July 2002 that affected many of us badly.

However one of the most fundamental problems is that London’s drainage system is completely inadequate. Over the years no one has sufficiently addressed this problem.

Every time it happens authorities wring their hands (if that) and it’s forgotten once the waters subside.

Many of the open streams of centuries gone by are now channelled into main drains. The River Fleet, I believe, is now under Southampton Road.

When the storm water completely fills the main drainage system there is a back-up from side drains and endangered homes nearby are often flooded with a mix of storm water and sewage.

This is a completely unacceptable public health risk. Some older people must live in fear of such flooding. Will it take a few deaths to see a significant change in official attitudes?

Fixing the problem would require more commitment than the relevant authorities seem to show and would need government finance.

There needs to be a “big conversation” involving borough councils, Thames Water, the Mayor of London (GLA) and the national government of the day.

It hasn’t happened so far, but isn’t it time that conversation finally started?

PHIL WILSON, NW3