From Ceefax....

"Why is anyone surprised at the terrible floods following the recent heavy rain?
Forty or 50 years ago I remember seeing drain-cleaning trucks around the local streets every few weeks, keeping the drains clear of litter, leaves etc.
I cannot remember the last time I saw one, despite local taxation having risen at leats tenfold.
Add to this the government's policy of wanting to concrete over most of the south-east England for housing, and it is obvious problems with flooding will get worse, as rainwater will have nowhere to go."

JR, London.

I agree with JR 100% but I think he's got one thing wrong....I can remember them Drain Clearing Trucks up until the 1990's....I saw them all the time!!!!
And who can remember the Big Grey Vaccum Cleaners in the Town Centre that blokes use'to push around????
They rememinded me of an Elephant when I was a kid and they had their own distinct smell!!!!

I remember them massive hoover things. They looked like noonoo out of the teletubbies (apparently, someone told me this anyway)

The vacuum cleaners or the blokes??

We get them street cleaner wagon thingys around our street fairly regular, keeps the gutter clear of leaves and what not

Not the Street Cleaners these were wagon things with a big vacuum type hose on it that went into the drains and sucked all the shite up!!!!

My first job was as a Wages Clerk for HBC in the Highways Department. Part of my job there was to sort out any pay queries from the various employees, which included the 'crew' of those drain cleaners. I can still smell them now, as I write this