Homes in Malpas were flooded last week after surface water ran into properties.

Now a row has developed between residents in Well Street and Well Avenue and property developer Bovis, which is working on the new Hampton Lea development at the bottom of the street.

Some people have complained that last Thursday, water running off the development site, which was already heavily impact following heavy rains earlier in the month, contributed to flooding around their homes.

Bovis acknowledged that the site had experienced flooding, but said its drainage had worked as it was intended.

Phil Flannagan and Rachel Moulstone were among the people to experience flooding.

“Although we’ve had problems with surface water in the past, this is the worst it has been,” Mr Flannagan said.

“The rain we had yesterday, although it was very heavy, the water was coming off the site.

“It’s something we were worried was going to happen, we knew the more houses they built then we knew there was going to be a problem.”

However, Bovis insisted that despite the heavy rain, its own flooding measures had stood up to the volume of water.

“We are aware that recent flash floods have caused flooding in some areas in Shropshire and Cheshire,” the company said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the bottom of our Hampton Lea location, in Malpas, has been impacted by this.

“Although there is a slope from our location, the drainage is designed so that the top part of the development drains towards Chester Road and away from Well Meadow at the bottom of the site.

“The surface water on the remainder of the development runs into our balancing pond, which we can confirm has remained at a good level over the last week.

“We are currently carrying out further drainage works as part of our planning permission, which will further remove any excess water.”

Malpas councillor Charles Higgie said: “I was horrified to see for myself the damage done.”

Meanwhile the issues in Well Street were exacerbated by heavy water run-off from separate construction work at the Red Lion at the top of the road.

The general manager for the pub, Bethan Rose-Bailey, reassured residents that work was being done to rectify the issues.

“The storms on Wednesday evening were unprecedented and devastating in many ways, for homes and businesses,” said Ms Rose-Bailey.

“Personally, after a frightening night, I was dealing with the aftermath from 6am the following morning and started fielding calls from people in the community about 8am.

“I made sure that I contacted the contractors as soon as they arrived on site but there were a number of safety issues with power that urgently needed to be addressed first.

“The site is still fully under the control of the contractor, not The Lion management and so at present all I could do was pass on any information I received.”

“I was made aware that a road sweeper had been arranged but could not attend until the following day.

“I attended the site meeting this morning and it has been agreed that the area that is currently gravel in Well Street will be tarmacked to prevent any future incidences.”