Unkept ditches causing drainage issues in historic Ashleyville

WEST ASHLEY, S.C. (WCBD) – Unkept ditches are leading to newfound flooding problems in the Ashleyville neighborhood, according to residents.

“Each time with a hard rain or a storm, the situation becomes worse. And this time with Tropical Storm Debby, it’s the worst we’ve ever seen it with the ditch overflowing and flooding property areas,” said Marsha Higgins, the president of the Maryville-Ashleyville Neighborhood Association.

The overflowing water Higgins described came from a ditch on Main Street which she said has not been cleared out by the City of Charleston for 2-3 years now. Neighbors said the same goes for another ditch on Brookfield Street.

“It’s a big puddle every time. You can’t drive through it. Until the water recedes. The water tries to recede but if it stays three or four days of rain, you can’t drive down this street it backs up,” said Carlos Butler who is also a resident.

Higgins spoke out during this week’s Charleston City Council meeting. She told News 2 the city has denied requests to clean the ditches. She explained there is a drainage project in the works for Ashleyville, but it’s been on hold since some of the residents have been hesitant to sign the easement release agreement because of the terms.

“Some of the properties are heirs’ property so because of that, you know, we have more family members involved and signing the agreement and all of that so that’s a factor that slows things down too,” Higgins shared. “And another factor that has slowed things down is that the city has been sending these letters to the wrong address.”

Higgins said she will assist in anyway she can to get the signatures from the residents, but in the meantime, she wants to see the city take short term action.

“We would like them just to pay attention to that and clean the ditches out so that it would address the immediate problem until we can get the Ashleyville drainage project completed,” Higgins said.

News 2 was waiting to hear more from the city.

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