My elderly mother suffers constant problems with water entering the coal cellar under the pavement, which is ruining her new carpet. I imagine this is a common problem in this area.
Despite intervention from her councillor, it seems Brighton and Hove City Council has no legal responsibility to waterproof the pavement in this sort of situation. So the carpet continues to rot, much to her distress.
I am fortunate enough not to have this problem to the same extent, despite having my coal-hole under the pavement as well. Maybe this is because of having an asphalt pavement - my mother's is paved - or possibly because I still have the original coal-hole cover intact, whereas hers has been removed and paved over.
Can any Argus reader offer useful advice? We are thinking of asking for the cover to be reinstated as 75 per cent of the water (comprising bucketfuls in heavy rain) enters in this immediate area. Has anyone tried this?
-Name and address supplied
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