CLEANSING bosses in Bradford will be given a list of Ilkley streets and roads which need their drains cleaned after recent heavy rains resulted in flooding.

Traders and parish councillors in Ilkley have lambasted Bradford Council, claiming that some street drains have not been cleaned out for around two years.

Some businesses in the town say that flooding in cellars is so common that insurance companies will no longer cover them.

David Witt, co-owner of Annings photographic shop on Cunliffe Road said the back stairwell and cellar of the shop were flooded a fortnight ago after the drains backed up with water.

The drain at the shop had a special plug fitted because of previous flooding but this blew off allowing the water to escape and fill the cellar.

Opposite the shop, said Mr Witt, a car alarm went off when the drain cover underneath where it was parked rose up and banged into the vehicle under the pressure of water.

Next door at Period and Contemporary Lighting, owner Peter Rocklin said that the cellar, which had been converted into a new showroom, was soon flooded as the water backed up from the drains.

Fortunately, Mr Rocklin and members of staff were able to clear stock out of the cellar as it flooded, preventing the expensive items from being ruined by the water.

"I think the main sewer could not cope and it just backed up," said Mr Rocklin.

Both businesses cannot get flooding insurance because the problem happens too often.

But according to Mr Witt, both Yorkshire Water and Bradford Council each claim that fixing the problem is the other's responsibility.

Mr Witt said: "The drains are not up to the job - we are getting more and more of it."

At a recent meeting, Ilkley Parish Councillors demanded action by Bradford Council to clear the drains..

Councillor Lexa Robinson said: "After the torrential rain I had a very busy time answering the door to complaints about drains.

"I have been trying for two years to get Ashlands Road cleaned and they still haven't done it," said Coun Robinson.

She said that drains were full to the top or blocked, resulting in water running down the roads and into people's homes instead of emptying into the sewer system.

"The water was coming down Dean Street like a river and flowing into the shop on the corner because the drains on Leeds Road wouldn't take it," said Coun Robinson.

She said that the drains had been blocked for years and some in Ilkley would need striking with a pickaxe to break up the congealed rubbish before they could be cleaned out properly.

Parish councillors have agreed to draw up a list of drains which need cleaning before sending it to cleansing bosses at City Hall, urging them to get the work done.

A spokesman for Yorkshire Water said that parts of the region had experienced exceptional weather earlier this month and sewers became overloaded by torrential rain. "While the sewage system is designed to cope with storm conditions, on this occasions we have been beaten by the weather," he said.

Anyone who has had any problem with their sewer drain can call Yorkshire Water on 0845 1242424.

A Bradford Council Spokesperson said: "A high level of rainfall in such a short space of time can cause the gullies to overflow. Any reports of blocked drains or culverts in Ilkley that are Council owned, are always dealt with as quickly as possible."

"At the moment Council contractors are in the process of emptying in excess of 3,700 gullies in Ilkley over the next month."