A NUMBER of Chudleigh residents are up in arms about the state of the leat in the town.

Peter Ingham, who bought a house in Culver Lane a year and half ago, is angry that his gateway is always soaking wet. He believes the problem is because Chudleigh leat is not sufficiently lined and sealed.

'When I moved into the house I wanted to put my dustbins there, but I can't as it's always too wet. It is permanently wet,' said Mr Ingham.

Currently, the leat is not running, but Mr Ingham said that when the bung is taken out water just pours into his entrance.

He bought the property from Cavanna Homes.

'And if I've told them about the problem once, I've told them a thousand times,' he said

'The house is fine, but every time I think about that leat it gets me angry. I have videoed the footings of my house and the wetness, and have taken it to Cavanna and shown them, but they have still done nothing.'

Mr Ingham believes that if the leat was lined and sealed with clay properly, the leakage would not happen.

'The leat was lined last summer by two youngsters, and it was supposed to have cured the problem, but it was not done properly. Cavanna have said that they will line it again,' he added.

Mr Ingham said if he knew the situation he would have not bought the house.

Graham Lawrence, Teignbridge Council heritage officer, said: 'The issue lay between the resident and Cavanna.

'Cavanna has promised to reline the leat, but there is no proof that the water in people's gardens is coming from the leat.'

'There has been a lot of ground work, and the water line has been messed about, so it could be a spring,' he said.

Alan Brunton, chairman of the town's history group, is concerned that the leat is not running, and is being left to stagnate.

'So many houses built around the leat are getting flooded. It is Cavanna's obligation to keep it clear and clean.'

'It is one of Chudleigh's best historical assets, and I am concerned that it is retained in good condition,' said Mr Brunton.

John Laskey, whose home in Kits Close backs onto the leat, claims it is the worse condition it has been in since he moved in 10 years ago.

'It is starting to smell, and is getting worse day by day,' he said.

'I am really unhappy about its state. Nettles and weeds are more than a metre high.

'You can't even see the water,' said Mr Laskey.

There is confusion as to who has the responsibility to make sure the leat is clean and clear of weeds, but it is believed to be either the owner of the mill, Chris Cox or Cavanna Homes.

Mr Cox, who has the right to the flow of water over the leat on his land, said he was prepared to tidy up the overgrown area as soon as he is granted planning permission, but as it stands he said it is out of his hands.

At the time of going to press we were unable to get a comment from Cavanna.