A BOOMING Launceston business is under threat — not from the economic downturn but because of a long-running dispute over drainage.

Flooding downstream of the Redrow Homes (South West) Development at Eastfield Farm affects the St Leonards Equitation and Paintball Centre at Polson, claims the owner, Mr Andy Reeve.

South West Water has contacted Redrow to inform them of the flooding, which Mr Reeve says is caused by run-off from the Redrow site.

He says the flood attenuation pond does not work after three and a half inches of rain and 28 centimetres of snow melt.

Mr Reeve claims: "We hold a deed of grant that states the drain is solely for the use of CCC (former Cornwall County Council, now Cornwall Council) — the pipes that come down the valley were deliberately made smaller to the effect that due to the new development at Eastfield a new easement would have to be sought.

"With this increased flow of water from the houses at Redrow it is now flooding on regular occasions the main A388 road up to a height of lorry cabs, which we have photos to prove.

"My property is being flooded causing huge losses and leaving us with no property to sell.

"This is a serious issue which seems to be falling on deaf ears."

South West Water has asked Redrow to resolve any issues with the discharge from their development, pointing out that they are unable to adopt any of the surface water drainage upstream of this affected area when a dispute exists.

Mr Reeve told the 'Post' that he is also in limbo on an offer to train 20 riders for the Olympics (he trained Olympic silver medallist Heather Fell for the showjumping in the Pentathlon).

He said: "We will not be here to do this.

"This dispute has been going on for three years, but I can't sell my property. It is like dealing with the dead."

When asked to comment on the situation, a spokesman for Cornwall Council said: "Cornwall Council, as the highway authority, has recently met with Mr Reeve and others to assess the alleged flooding to his business and other adjacent land. Officers from the Highways Service are currently assisting Mr Reeve with his enquiries with the developer and South West Water about the functioning of the Eastfields development's drainage system.

"At this present time there is no evidence to prove that the present highway drainage system is incapable of dealing with any increased water from this development and is thereby causing additional flooding to Mr Reeve's property, which is located in a high flood risk area adjacent to the Kensey River, near where it joins the River Tamar."

The spokesman added: "Cornwall Council are aware of surface water flooding which occurred in 2007 along the A388 road however they have increased maintenance inspections on their own drainage systems in the area and have not received any confirmed reports of defects since then."

A spokesman for Redrow said: "Redrow strongly refutes that it is responsible for any flooding and we are satisfird that we have complied with all the conditions attached to our planning consent. We can make no further comment."