A FED-UP landowner says she is at the end of her tether as flooding issues on her land continue despite six months of investigations.

Elizabeth Rai, 43, who owns land off Station Road in Earls Colne, says she has had enough of flooding on her land which she says is being caused by a 90-homes development by Bellway Homes - a claim denied by the firm.

Tensions rose in September 2021 when Mrs Rai’s 17-year-old pony, Bella, was diagnosed with laminitis which she says was caused by groundwater causing more grass to grow.

She says an old trench on her land regularly collects too much water and recent a goodwill gesture by Bellway to dig another trench on their land for a 100-year flood defence hasn’t worked.

Now Mrs Rai feels she has hit her breaking point after another trench dug for electrical cables flooded in just five minutes.

Braintree Council has been conducting an investigation for six months.

Mrs Rai said: “Bellway are still not admitting liability. You can dig anywhere on my land now and watch the water pour in.

“Within five minutes my trench for electrics was filled from the running water from Bellway site.

“I just want them to put it right. This is clearly unacceptable by any standards and the investigation needs to be stepped up.

“It has taken over six months to investigate this breach of planning by Bellway.

“Every passing month more damage occurs and the threat to my horse’s health increases.”

A spokesman for Bellway added: “Bellway’s Harvard Place development in Earls Colne has been built in accordance will all of the planning requirements for a development of this nature, which includes the management of natural water on site through the installation of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS).

“These systems have been approved by the Local Lead Flood Authority for Essex and by Braintree Town (sic) Council.

“There is a naturally high water table in this area which we believe to be the cause of waterlogging on neighbouring land and we, therefore, refute the allegations about the development causing groundwater issues elsewhere in the locality.”