Floods have ruined the financial state of more than six small independent businesses in West Swindon with owners angry after months of inaction.

Half-metre deep water has prevented access to Cheney Manor Industrial Estate and damaged at least 15 cars leading to up to £20,000 in lost revenue for each business.

The flooding started in December and the businesses say that Swindon Borough Council and Thames Water have not visited them, and have swapped responsibility with still no action being taken two months later.

Shahid Husain, 45, owns Fords Breakers, a breakers yard on the estate which he now says is ‘like a waterpark’.

Swindon Advertiser: Business owners Shahid Husain, 45, Mat Middleton, 43, and Ted Puffett, 59.Business owners Shahid Husain, 45, Mat Middleton, 43, and Ted Puffett, 59. (Image: Newsquest)

He said: “It is very frustrating when nobody can drive in. 

“I am paying from my pocket for the last two months - I got bills to pay, rent to pay, electricity, insurance and not much has been done in the last two months.

“I feel like I'm alone. Like nobody is there.

"When you don't pay the rent for one week you get straight away a letter, a reminder, things like that. But who should we send a reminder to?”

Shahid sees on average three customers a day as opposed to three an hour before the water with customers choosing rival businesses to avoid the water.

Mat Middleton, 43, who manages GA Sand and Gravel, was open for two weeks before the flooding and estimates he is losing £1,000 daily.

He said: “Being a new business we have had to build up our customer base and now it is all gone.

“We are sat from seven in the morning to four thirty, doing nothing.”

The businesses all pay rent and a maintenance fee to the council, yet it has been claimed council officials told tenants it was Thames Water’s responsibility.

In the latest update, the council have cleared the drains preventing water from escaping and are now waiting for Thames Water to clear their drains.

However, at the time of publication, Thames Water seemed unaware of the latest update from SBC, with a spokesperson saying: “They [Swindon Borough Council] have assured us the gullies will be cleared this week.”

A third business owner, Ted Puffett, 59, complained that nobody from Thames Water or the council had been to visit the businesses beyond the flooding.

He said: “It may not be Dick Lovett's up here, but it's all little businesses, you know, we're trying to earn a pound. It's affected everybody on this estate.”

A Swindon Borough Council spokesperson said: “We have been working with Thames Water to resolve this issue and our team have already been out to clear the gullies.

“Thames Water now needs to clear the pipes it is responsible for and we have been told this work will take place.”

A Thames Water spokesperson said: "We responded to reports of external flooding at Cheney Manor Industrial Estate in Swindon, on Wednesday 28 February.

"Our engineers found the roadside gullies were full of debris, blocking the rainwater from draining away.

“As roadside gullies are the responsibility of the local authority, we met with their representatives at the site, to ensure the problem had been correctly reported. 

“They have assured us the gullies will be cleared this week.

"We have also arranged an inspection of our own sewers to ensure there are no blockages disrupting the flow. This is due to take place over the next week.

"We are sorry to businesses who have experienced flooding and have had customer representatives in the area to provide support and advice to those impacted."