Percolation test contractor wanted - Drainage

[Ian Potter]

Like many contributors, in torrential or prolonged rain, I have a back garden which suffers from flooding. The garden is also the lowest point and water collects from my and neighbours’ gardens. I’ve already dug up and removed enough clay to fill two large skips down to a depth of 5 feet. On a bad day I’ve moved over 1,000 litres by hand! There are no drains to the rear of the house. The council won’t allow a pipe to the existing drain to the side of the 1950s built house and insist on a soak-away. I’ve tried to obtain a percolation test to prove that a soak-away probably won’t work so that the council will have to allow a drain.
However, after much interesting and helpful correspondence with drainage companies on the problem, not one will carry out the percolation test. They simply ‘disappear’. Can anybody please give me the name of a company or recommend a reputable company in London/Surrey who will carry out such a test?

[Tony McC]

I'm away from my office this week, but when I get back next week, I'll dig out a couple of likely contenders for you.