River campaigners fear a repeat of devastating floods seen twice this century if waterway clearance work is not stepped up.
Hundreds of homes in and around Canterbury were wrecked when the Great Stour burst its banks over the winter of 2000/01, and again in 2014, following periods of heavy rainfall.
Fordwich homes besieged by water
Homeowners and authorities were left counting the huge costs of the mammoth clean-up operation.
And there are now serious concerns such disasters could be seen again, with river-watchers claiming the water is littered with dangerous debris, such as fallen trees, vegetation and silt.
The Little Stour and Nailbourne River Management Group - set up in response to the 2001 floods - says not enough work is being done to clear the Stour.
Especially bad, it claims, is the stretch between Fordwich and Richborough, where it is feared debris is restricting the flow of the river, causing water levels to rise dangerously in bouts of heavy rainfall.
Members fear the river could burst its banks again - threatening properties - if the district is battered by rain for a sustained period.
Group chairman Martin Twyman said: “To be honest, I’m livid about it. We’ve been telling the Environment Agency for years that not enough maintenance is being done.
“And climate change is dumping far more rain on us now, which is not being taken into account.