Fed-up walkers say they have to splash through floodwater on a riverside path, despite complaining about the problem for three years.

The towpath alongside the River Medway in Fant is frequently flooded for a distance of around 100m close to the junction with Unicumes Lane in Maidstone.

But the water is said to come not from the River Medway but a leak from a pond a little distance up Unicumes Lane which isn’t draining as it is supposed to because a culvert is blocked.

The culvert should take the water underneath the railway line, footpath and out into the River Medway. Instead the water is trickling down the hill and flooding the towpath.

Alan Newman is the chairman of the Clifford Way Residents Assocation. He said: “It’s been doing this for about three years – pre-Covid certainly.

“I have complained on numerous occasions on behalf of our 157 members to Kent County Council (KCC), which is responsible for the footpath, to Network Rail, which I believe is responsible for the culvert and certainly ought to be worried about the water potentially damaging the foundations of their railway bridge, and also to the Envronment Agency which has responsibilty for flooding.

“You can see from the KCC website that I am not the only one who has reported it.

“But I can’t get anyone to take action.”

Mr Newman, who is an athletics coach, has also been in touch with his three Maidstone council representatives, KCC councillor and MP, Helen Grant, without success.

He said: “The Barming to Aylesford River Medway Cycle Path was created with £1.8 million of Sustrans [charirty] money. You would think someone would be worried about what has happened to that investment.

“The flooding has turned a pleasant walk into a rather disappointing experience as you have to splash through the floodwater.

“In addition there is the current question of a water shortage. Millions of litres of water that should flow into the River Medway, which could then be used to top up the Bewl Reservoir, are being wasted.

“It seems that neither Network Rail, the Environment Agency, nor KCC is willing to take responsibility, each pushing it on to the other. So nothing gets done.”

Fant ward councillor Paul Harper (Lab) agreed. He said: “This is a legitimate problem. There’s been some flooding for several years, but it has got massively worse of late.

“I have tried to encourage KCC to take action, but everyone just passes the buck.”

Network Rail and KCC have been contacted for comment, but to date have not responded.

The Environment Agency suggested it was a problem for Maidstone council to deal with.