Kingsbridge councillors have called for drainage clearance at Western Backway after more than a foot of debris was recorded in parts of the network.

At a meeting on Tuesday, October 13, the town council unanimously agreed to ask Devon County Council to proceed with the work.

Two Devon County Council officers and Cllr McCormick assessed the site, where debris accumulation has raised concerns about the drainage system’s effectiveness.

Councillors also questioned whether upstream attenuation areas, designed to temporarily store water and slow its flow downstream, were working effectively.

They said it was “essential” these systems operated “more effectively” upstream.

Problems with drainage grilles, including one at Morrisons, will also be raised at the next Kingsbridge Partnership meeting.

It was agreed that the grille on Mill Street would instead be managed by Kingsbridge Town Council and South Hams District Council.

The minutes do not specify when the clearance work will take place or how much it is expected to cost.

The concerns come amid wider warnings about Kingsbridge’s long-term flood risk.

The Government’s Coastal Risk Finder maps potential future flood and coastal erosion risks, including scenarios extending to 2050. showing areas of the town under water.

However, the level of risk depends on the location and the assumptions used in the projections.

Cllr Julian Brazil, Leader of Devon County Council and member for Kingsbridge, has previously warned that rising sea levels will pose an increasing challenge for Kingsbridge and called for local authorities to work together on timely solutions.

The latest request places responsibility for progressing the Western Backway clearance with Devon County Council, although the minutes do not confirm whether further drainage investigations or remedial work are planned.