Fears of flooding are still widespread in an area devastated by last year’s floods, despite extensive work carried out by Croydon Council.

Since February 2014, works have been carried out in the Caterham Bourne catchment area, around Purley and Kenley, including the cleaning and desilting of the balancing pond in Purley Oaks Depot.

A report to Croydon Council’s streets and environment scrutiny sub-committee details other works undertaken, including clearing ditches and trash screens in Harris Academy Primary, Kenley Cricket Club, Bourne View and Bourne Park Close.

In Dale Road, which became a river during the floods, a depth monitor has been installed in an inspection chamber to monitor the depth of water in the culvert.

Culvert sections have been surveyed using CCTV cameras, with some parts cleared and others awaiting cleaning.

Your Local Guardian:
Mark Kelly's home was flooded last year and it is still drying out

Last February, Mark Kelly was forced to flee his home in Godstone Road. He is still drying out his property after moving back in with his family last October.

He has seen the contractors out in the area, but said they need to do more.

The 56-year-old said: “They say they have done the culvert by the house, but I have not seen them go down there, unless they have cleared it from further up.

“The surveyor they employed for the council, when I spoke to him in November, still did not have an employment contract and did not want to do any work in case he wasn’t going to get paid.

“Every time it rains we all panic.”

Your Local Guardian:
The balancing pond at Purley Oaks depot is one of Croydon Council's flood prevention measures

A Croydon Council spokesman said: “From deeper floodwater storage ponds to better drainage, we’ve already completed most of our £850,000 long-term improvements to local flood defences.

“This includes reducing the risk of flooding in the Kenley and Purley areas by working with neighbouring councils to control the flow of water.”