Sandgate's Own Peckham Spring...

As many local people have noticed, there is water running from the road at The Undercliffe, Sandgate. The water running down to and into Sandgate High Street, and also beginning to run into the neighbouring Chichester Hall. The water has been running off and on for months, but has recently restarted: it's doing considerable damage to the surface of the road which is also now breaking up.

As the water seems to be clean (rather than sewage) I reported this to Affinity Water in March, and they ran tests but concluded that the water is not from the mains.

Affinity Water told me after those tests (on 29th March):

"Our teams have collected the loggers today and have contacted to let us know that the results confirm there is no mains leak here. The investigation indicates that this is groundwater, which will need to be looked into by the local authority."

and:

"The loggers would usually measure the factors indicating that water is disappearing from the main, but the results have come back as no leak here. The reference is (work order) WO SE-18893 And the notes are logged under 'Bybrook Cottage, The Undercliff, Folkestone, CT20 3AT' - Really appreciate your help with this. Chloe"

I'm no expert, but on looking at and smelling the water where its emerging, it doen't seem to be sewage to me, so it would seem to be a spring that has been diverted and is now emerging in the road (and through the grounds of the Members Club in the Chichester Hall).

As the water then stopped running for a while I hadn't pursued this further, but in ther last few days its been running again. I have therefore asked the Duistrict Manager of Kent Highways to resolve this and will update further when I hear from them.