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'Long-lasting solution' needed for flood-hit road

Harriet Heywood/BBC The left side of the photo shows Mill Lane stretching into the distance. There are chunks of tarmac missing in the centre of the road. The right side features a "Little Paxton" sign and a metal post that has been pulled from the ground during the floods. The sky is blue with some clouds and there is greenery and trees on both the right and left sides of the road. Harriet Heywood/BBC
Calls to raise the height of the road or create better flood defences have been made repeatedly by residents

A "long-lasting solution" is being sought for a road that was swept away for a second time due to flooding.

Little Paxton Bridge in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, has been closed to motorists after water from the Great Ouse flooded the road on Mill Lane, making it impassable.

Despite the water levels subsiding since recent heavy floods, the road that was resurfaced seven months ago has crumbled, which has forced motorists to take long detours.

Cambridgeshire County Council said it was investigating why previous repairs failed and that it hoped to design a "long-lasting solution".

Harriet Heywood/BBC An image of Mill Lane fully submerged under water. There is a chunk of tarmac with double yellow lines on sticking out of the water.Harriet Heywood/BBC
"Every time it rains there are messages on social media to ask if the bridge is shut," says Mr Ferguson

Independent councillor for St Neots Priory Park and Little Paxton, Stephen Ferguson, said the closure of Mill Lane resulted in "massive congestion" in the town.

He said he had plotted the river levels for the past 11 years and that the last two floods to damage the road were the most serious recorded.

"It is not a particularly frequent occurrence, but it's happened more frequently than usual. That could be down to climate change or coincidence," he told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

"The truth of it is the road surface is not designed to be submerged in fast-flowing water... there must be a modern solution."

Mr Ferguson added building a higher road was "sensible", but the cost of repeatedly repairing the surface would be more affordable, although it did not account for the inconvenience to residents.

Harriet Heywood/BBC Images shows Mill Lane road and chunks of tarmac with yellow lines on them broken up with the cobbles underneath exposed. Harriet Heywood/BBC
The council cannot say when it will be able to safely reopen Mill Lane

A Cambridgeshire County Council spokesperson said: "Little Paxton Bridge on Mill Lane remains closed due to extensive damage to the road surface caused by recent heavy flooding.

"We are in the process of investigating why previous repairs in this location have failed. We will conduct repairs as soon as possible, but it is important that we take the necessary time to design a long-lasting solution.

"We cannot yet say when we will be able to safely reopen the road."

Harriet Heywood/BBC A Little Paxton road sign sticking out of the flood water. Harriet Heywood/BBC
The last two floods to damage Mill Lane were the most serious recorded

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