Roadside Ditches and Channels

Good drainage is essential to the highway particularly in rural areas where there is a greater reliance on ditches to carry surface water. Roadside ditches are normally the responsibility of the adjacent landowner even though the highway may drain into them and there is a common law duty on the adjacent landowner to maintain them.


Grips (channels) through the verge from the road to the ditch will be a County Council responsibility and we have programmes in place to inspect and maintain these but their performance can be compromised if the ditch they drain into lacks proper maintenance. Adjacent landowners should ensure that surface water is not discharged onto the highway and if highway drainage is affecting adjacent land please contact our highways department.