AFTER all the flooding problems we experienced six years ago, and recently the drainage improvements, the last thing we expected to find recently was a waste-water back-up along King s Hedges, St Ives. How much has this to do with global warming or our i

AFTER all the flooding problems we experienced six years ago, and recently the drainage improvements, the last thing we expected to find recently was a waste-water back-up along King's Hedges, St Ives.

How much has this to do with global warming or our inability to identify the true cause of these problems?

It ought to be obvious to most that we've had a lot of rain this year - far more than in previous years. It rained heavily for several days in recent months, but without any injurious effect. What is it about October's rain that is so different that it would cause our waste-water to backup?

We know they've recently built another 400 houses nearby, so one answer might be insufficient capacity since new houses usually imply more people moving into the area, or is it just the cycle of the seasons because autumn is the time leaves fall off trees and into our roads, where contractors sweep them into our drains?

Who is responsible for solving this problem? Nobody seems to know. Call Anglian Water and they'll tell you they are responsible only for public waste-water systems, and they will investigate only if there is sewage on the street (easily accomplished if you find your toilet backed up to the rim).

If you call the Huntingdonshire District Council environmental department, all they seem to want to do is to try to pass the buck. This is somewhat surprising considering that the council, overall, provides an excellent sanitary service, with well-organised refuse collections and outstanding recycling facilities near St Ives.

What about contractors sweeping leaves down drains causing the waste-water system to back-up which, in turn, causes sewage to deposit on our streets? Who is responsible - not us, claims "Chris in Admin" at Huntingdonshire's environmental department.

Isn't this the root cause of everything that is broken in the UK? Nobody seems to be responsible. As someone who has watched contractors clean NHS hospitals, I'm not surprised by the amount of money we spend trying to put things right, when things ought to be done properly in the first place.

With our politician representatives fast becoming our masters, there doesn't seem to be much hope for the long-suffering British subject, unless we all decide to boycott the main political parties - that way, politicians will have to be more accountable to the British electorate.

A URQUHART, King's Hedges, St Ives