The Environment Agency (EA) has promised it is working with Kingston Council and Thames Water to prevent future storm flooding in Kingston after last week’s torrential rainfall.

Several roads in Kingston were left underwater and two EU referendum polling stations, one in Chessington and the other in New Malden, were moved after flooding last Thursday.

Surface flooding was particularly severe in New Malden and Worcester Park, with water spewing from drains and blocking busy commuter routes.

The EA said £200,000 had been spent on flooding research in Kingston in the past two years alone by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

A Thames Water spokeswoman said: “Our sewers are designed to cope with the vast majority of storms but occasionally rainfall can be so heavy that it overwhelms the system.

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“The water and sewer systems are completely separate. This has nothing to do with the burst water main which affected the station last year.”

Flooding in the rail underpass in Kingston Road, New Malden, closed the road for some hours last Thursday morning.

The same underpass was heavily flooded in July 2014 and again after a water main burst in June last year.

New Malden councillor Raju Pandya said: “It needs to be thoroughly investigated. The thing is that area is getting flooded every time. Every time we’ve had an incident, we’ve had a marvellous response from residents coming to help.

“It’s causing a lot of inconvenience and discomfort to the residents and it’s most unfortunate.”

The borough is also located in the Hogsmill River catchment area, leaving homes at risk from flooding when the river overflows.

An EA spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said: “The agency continues to work with partners in Kingston to reduce the risk of flooding from both surface water and river flooding.

RELATED: Flooding closes two Kingston polling stations ahead of EU Referendum

“Kingston is currently modelling options which could be implemented in the next few years with further funding from Defra and the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal committee.

“The EA is progressing a £4.7m flood alleviation scheme to protect Kingston town centre and around 500 properties from the Hogsmill.”

Cllr Phil Doyle, cabinet member with responsibility for environment, said: The whole of south-west London experienced heavy rainfall last week and Kingston was no exception, with New Malden taking the brunt of the flooding.

“We have been working closely with the EA to investigate how we can better manage flooding within the borough.”

Kingston and Surbiton MP James Berry met with fellow south-eastern MPs on Tuesday to discuss the River Thames Scheme, a Government initiative designed to reduce flooding in boroughs bordering near the river.

He said: “As far as I’m aware there were only a few houses hit. I know the council are looking into surface water, there’s always a bit of a dispute whether it’s Thames Water.

“I’m fully supportive of this Thames River Scheme as long as Kingston only pays a fair price. I think the council needs to focus its funding together with the EA in those hotspot areas.”

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