West Sussex council worker hit by car driving through flood

The West Sussex County Council (WSCC) highways operative was struck by the white Land Rover at a road closure on the A29 Shripney Road, at the Saltbox Roundabout, on February 9. The worker was unharmed, but the incident has been reported to Sussex Police. Any witnesses are encouraged to contact police on 101.

The council said that while it understood driver frustration, driving through flooded roads could delay re-openings and push water into residential homes. A WSCC spokesperson said: "Our officers are there to help, they are not there to be abused either verbally or physically, and we urge the public to recognise this. "We want to resolve the issues faced due the adverse weather as much as the public and ask for patience whilst we do so."

They added that drivers' insurance may also be invalid if their car breaks down due to entering water. The A29 has been particularly badly affected by the recent weather, and work is underway to erect a temporary ramp over flooding at Sack Lane, to enable vehicle access for residents. The council is unable to pump water away from the carriageway, as a nearby stream which normally carries away water is currently full.

The incident comes as West Sussex continues to grapple with significant disruption caused by recent heavy rainfall. The county has seen an average increase of rainfall by 190 per cent since September last year, leading to multiple road closures due to flooding. Parts of West Sussex have seen 30 continuous days of rain this year.

The rainfall has also led to an increase in damaged roads, with 4,500 pothole repair jobs logged with the council's contractors in January.