Heavy rain caused significant damage to the road outside The Crown Inn in Chasetown, Burntwood, on the night of Wednesday, August 26, when a wall of water ripped up a speed bump. Video footage shows cars swerving to avoid the damaged road surface as they pass the pub.
The downpour also left a drain on the road badly damaged, as seen in photographs taken after the storm. Staff at the pub confirmed they had reported the issue to authorities and to others in the area.
Pub staff respond to flooding and damage
In a social media update shared at around 11pm on the night of the incident, a spokesperson for The Crown Inn wrote: "What ….a……. Day! Stay safe out there, folks. Police and highways haven’t turned up yet. I felt the rumble through the floor behind the bar and thought it was thunder !!! I’ve tried to block it as well as I can, so no one drives into it. Please drive carefully!!!"
An image shows the damaged road marked with two large, red bins to warn drivers. The pub staff took these precautions after the speed bump was torn up by the force of the water.
Local residents highlight recurring problem
The incident prompted responses from local residents, with one person commenting: "That speed hump has always been trouble. The first time wasn't long after they put it in, all the water that came down the hill and the water off the car park was redirected by it down Peakes entry, causing flooding on Queen street. They had to dig it up and put pipes through it for water to get through. Next, they extended it to the other side of the crossing. About time they removed it."
Another resident praised the pub staff's efforts, saying: "You did a great job making it safer for drivers, well done you."
Thunderstorm warning remains in place
The incident occurred as a thunderstorm warning was in place across the Midlands and the Black Country. The heavy rain led to the dramatic scene outside the pub, with the wall of water lifting the road surface.
The pub spokesperson noted that neither police nor highways teams had arrived by the time of the update, and they had taken steps to block the damaged area to prevent accidents. The road damage and flooding highlight the impact of the severe weather on the local area, with residents calling for the speed bump to be removed permanently.
