Rock Hill: new channel next week

When last year's works were carried out to tackle the problem of water running down the Bromley-facing side of Rock Hill, the installation of a French drain at the top of the hill was successful in dealing with the problem in that immediate area. However, once the water got beyond  the intersection with Well Hill, it emerged from the so-called bubble gulley (which took the water under Well Hill) to run down the rest of the hill, crossing towards the former Rock and Fountain pub. This was both a problem for residents and made it likely that, come winter, the familiar problem of a slippery surface on this steep hill would recur.

A Kent Highways drainage specialist and I visited the site earlier on the summer to discuss the issue and possible solutions with a local resident. We agreed that, while installing additional drainage would be prohibitively expensive and quite possibly ineffective, it made sense to install channels on the Well Hill/ Pump Lane side to prevent the water from flowing across to the other side of the road.

The works have now been confirmed for 26 August, the day after the Bank Holiday. 70 metres of channel blocks will be laid from the gulley downwards. I understand that this will require a road closure, which will mean significant diversions.