Flooding in Arundel hinders police commissioner voters

Drains in The Causeway overflowed following the unusually high tidal water in the River Arun, officials from West Sussex Fire and Rescue said.

The flooding affected the entrance to the Arundel Lido – today acting as a polling station for the PCC election – with water reportedly rising to around eight inches in parts.

Firefighters from Littlehampton, alongside contractors from West Sussex Highways, worked for around an hour clearing the water.

Chichester fire station’s commander Lee Spencer-Smith was in charge of the clear-up operation. He said: “We received the call at around 1pm.

“When we arrived the water had spread across parts of the road and into the car park.

“It was about eight-inches deep at points preventing pedestrians from entering parts of the site.

“We had to use a portable pump to lower the water level in the car park.”

The water has since been cleared.

A spokeswoman for Arun District Council said: “The PCC polling station at Arundel Lido has been open for voters to use all day and remains open to voters this afternoon.

“Fire crews were called in briefly to pump out water from the adjacent car park at high tide.

“Voters were still able to access the polling station on foot.”