To say that too much rain fell this week for the gullies and drains to cope with the weight of water is akin to the leaves on the line arguments put forward by the railways.

The downpour this week was exceptional and would have caused problems no matter how good the drainage and gully clearing system is.

Therefore, the comments made by Bradford Council and a senior councillor in response to criticism are simply a smokescreen.

The fact is that the whole drainage infrastructure, be it culverts on private land, council maintained gullies and drains or water company main drains, is in a parlous state and in some areas on the point of collapse.

That is evidenced by the fact that it is now becoming a regular feature of life for home owners and businesses in certain areas that every time the heavens open they face the risk of flooding.

For example, Catreset Services has been flooded four times in a couple of months compared with once last year. That picture can be painted across a growing number of areas of the district.

The council's highways department says the 80,000 gullies across the district are cleared annually and extra visits are made to any which are blocked.

That does not tie up with the comments made and the experiences of people in this neck of the metropolitan empire. Ask the residents of Lund Street what they think about the highways department claim.

The problem of such instant flooding is getting worse. Debates over the issues of why the drainage system is in such a state and who is responsible could go on forever. That part of the smokescreen needs blowing away and clear thought given to the urgent need for an action plan, such as a review of procedures in the short term -- coupled with a long hard look to the future with a targeted and measurable programme drawn up and made public. In this fragile economy of ours, businesses and home owners cannot continue to stand the cost and inconvenience of such incidents and associated payments, such as increased insurance premiums.

We can all help kick-start a review by taking the highways department at its word.

The department says that anyone concerned about a gully in their area should call the council hotline 01274 751000. By acting as their eyes and ears a more accurate, cost-effective picture can be built up of the true state of the gullies.

Lessons learned from the devastating floods at Stockbridge included the obvious that prevention is better and probably cheaper than cure.