THE underpasses near Coate Water are still set to close despite the flooding issue being fixed.

Drains overflowing during heavy downpours often caused the pedestrian paths beneath Queens Drive and Marlborough Road to be impassible as they became filled with an unpleasant mixture of rainwater and sewage.

The underpasses flooded at least five times last year and once again in January. So in March, the council proposed setting up a new pedestrian crossing on Queens Drive and cited the frequent flooding as one of the main reasons for this addition to the busy highway.

A few weeks ago, Thames Water found a solution to the flooding by removing and sealing the sewage drain between the subways. The local authority's pumps then managed to successfully prevent any flooding during stormy weather.

South Swindon Parish Council vice chair Coun Janine Howart worked with chair Coun Chris Watts along with the water company and borough council to sort out this issue.

Now that the underpasses can be used without fear of flooding, Coun Howarth thought they could be kept open and that the above-ground crossing would no longer be needed - but it's still going ahead.

She told the Adver: "People were angry about the idea when it was suggested. It's well-used and they feel safer, in daytime, going under the road than waiting for traffic to stop and they can't see any reason for it to close other than the flooding, which is no longer an issue.

"The crossing will cause congestion and add carbon emissions to the atmosphere from all the vehicles waiting there. If subways are no longer viable, why are only certain ones being decommissioned? Money's just been spent on the one near Morrisons.

"The parish council commissioned a mural made by schoolchildren to mark the 100th anniversary of the First World War and noone said at the time 'are you sure? The underpass might not be there in five years'."

Coun Howarth tried to get the matter discussed at a public scrutiny meeting but did not have enough support to call it in.

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “There are a number of reasons why we are looking to close these underpasses.

“The repeated flooding in the area was one of the factors and we have been working for some time with Thames Water to ensure this was addressed.

“The main reason the underpasses are being removed from use is because they are at an age where it is becoming increasingly expensive to maintain them.

“The underpasses were built before modern design codes were introduced. They are unsuitable for use by vulnerable users thanks to the limited space and potential blind spots and they are not wide enough to safely accommodate the movement of pedestrians and cyclists at the same time.

“Our new crossing designs have been subject to an independent road safety audit and will continue to be closely monitored to make sure they are as safe as possible.”