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 When they purchased their homes, Residents of Upton One at Sixfields, were assured by English Partnerships that their Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) was “state of the art” technology. Even though locals who knew the area warned at the time that Upton was being constructed on a flood plain, the new residents felt assured by the statement from English Partnerships that their homes would be protected - come what may. English Partnerships, West Northamptonshire Development Corporation and the Environment Agency would have them (and us) believe that with their new computer models and SUDS, the threat of floods would recede for up to 200 years.
 Unfortunately as the Upton folks now realise, SUDS don’t work. Last Wednesday night, (10.09.08) after a few hours of rain, the six-foot-deep open trenches that run along the front of the houses, filled with water and overflowed. Cars had to be moved and the water came within inches of the front doors of the houses. In one house, water started to bubble through the kitchen floor. Residents say that, had the rain continued for just 15 minutes longer, their houses would have been awash. Angry at their close shave, residents complained to English Partnerships and looked for help. Imagine how frustrated they became when they were told by English Partnership’s Mr. Hustler: “This is a normal event”.
 To the residents of Upton, this event was far from “normal”. It seems that English Partnerships are unable to appreciate the long term problems that this event will cause for the area. Firstly, it demonstrates that the Developers’ use of the SUDS principle to explain away how increased water run-off from new intensive housing developments can be controlled and therefore make unsuitable land ideal for building, is a false proposition. This event alone will have a major impact on planning across Northamptonshire and the rest of the UK. Secondly, the strange looking ditches arranged around the houses look fairly benign when dry. However, with just a small amount of water in them, they become a high hazard for young and frail people, who may fall into them. Thirdly, when these ditches are in full flow, their sloping sides cannot be seen by pedestrians or even Emergency Services. To fall into one of these open sewers at full flow would risk being pulled under by the current created as the water tries to escape from the estate through the 15 inch drain pipes at the bottom. To think that none of the designers thought that these open ditches should at least be fenced is astounding.
The Upton One site was planned as a prestigious Eco development - sponsored by no less than HRH Prince Charles. The Prince has made a number of visits to the site to see for himself how successful such a development could be. NRA have written to Prince Charles,  asking him to support the afflicted residents by applying pressure to English Partnerships to make them take the problem seriously. Apart from needing work immediately to make these ditches safe, residents’ properties will be devalued and they will now face increased insurance premiums, because their houses are positively identified as being susceptible to flooding.
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