Highways Drainage: Understanding the Network, Maintenance and Responsibilities.

Behind every gritted road is a winter service working around the clock. Discover how SCC prepares for snow, ice and severe weather, and learn about the people, planning and technology that help keep Suffolk moving all winter long.

This presentation provides an overview of the highway drainage network, explaining how highway gullies, pipes, ditches, culverts and outfalls work together to manage surface water and reduce flood risk on the local highway network.

The session outlines Suffolk Highways' approach to drainage maintenance, including the annual cyclic gully cleansing programme, reactive maintenance activities, investigations and improvement schemes. It also explains the challenges faced in managing drainage systems, such as ageing infrastructure, increasing rainfall intensity, third-party assets, and capacity constraints in both highway and water company networks.

Parish councils will gain a better understanding of the respective responsibilities of Suffolk Highways, landowners, riparian owners, district councils and water companies, as well as how drainage issues are reported, assessed and prioritised.

The presentation aims to promote constructive partnership working, helping parish councils identify local drainage concerns, understand the limitations of existing systems, and support efforts to improve network resilience and reduce the impact of flooding on local communities.