Stoke Families Demand Council Action as They Face Unprecedented Flooding Crisis
Residents of Munro Street in the West End area of Stoke-on-Trent faced a severe flooding crisis on October 31, 2025. Families described the incident as the worst flooding they had ever experienced. In the aftermath, they have been demanding immediate action from Stoke-on-Trent City Council to unblock the drains that contributed to the crisis.
Community Response to Flooding
Tom James, a local resident, reported that the floodwaters reached alarming levels, enough to overwhelm his red van. “The flooding was incredibly severe,” he shared. Residents like James and Kev Freakley, a 64-year-old long-time inhabitant, observed that blocked drains have been a persistent problem, with some remaining obstructed for over a decade.
- Tom James (39 years old): Experienced floodwaters almost reaching his van’s engine.
- Kev Freakley (64 years old): Noted the absence of proper drainage maintenance since the 1970s.
Efforts to Unblock Drains
Freakley and other community members took the initiative to tackle the flooding themselves. They gathered tools and worked on unblocking the drains, even stopping traffic to prevent further water accumulation from vehicles. “Without the help of the community, the situation would have been much worse,” he noted.
While some residents actively participated in clearing the drains, others felt frustrated by the delayed response from the council. Kevin Fradley, aged 55, expressed concern about how vehicle traffic exacerbated the flooding situation.
Council’s Response
Stoke-on-Trent City Council acknowledged the flooding crisis, indicating that their teams had attended to 52 reports related to the flooding. A spokesperson mentioned that the intense rainfall overwhelmed the drainage systems throughout the area.
- October 31, 2025: Date of the flooding incident.
- 52: Number of reported flooding-related jobs attended by council teams.
Residents reiterated their demand for the council to conduct thorough maintenance on the drainage systems to prevent future flooding crises. Justine Johnson, aged 55, highlighted the recurrent issue of flooding, emphasizing the urgent need for the drains to be managed effectively.
Looking Ahead
The community of Munro Street continues to call for action from local authorities. They strive for assurance that such unprecedented flooding will be mitigated in the future. As they clean up and recover from the recent crisis, residents are hopeful that this experience will prompt meaningful improvements in their neighborhood’s infrastructure.
