Christmas away from flooded home

By Sarah Portlock
BBC News, Worcester

Lesley Bond's home is still being cleared out

"We were out of our home at Christmas in 2000 after the floods. That was bad enough.

"I don't want to have to do it again."

Lesley Bond, 60, is nearly in tears at the thought of another Christmas in rented accommodation after flood water wrecked her Worcester home of 30 years.

However, the thought is made more bearable by the fact her grandchildren, the main reason she does not want to be away from home again, will be coming round to visit and she will get to cook her family dinner.

"I will see them but it's not the same as having them come to stay overnight," she said.

"I'm not looking forward to Christmas. I like to stay at home."

No flood barriers

The Bonds, Lesley and husband Peter, 61, are not alone in spending Christmas away from home due to the summer's flooding.

It's devastating. I hope we never have to go through this again

Lesley Bond

In the West Midlands, an estimated 1,150 people have not yet been able to return.

Ironically, Mrs Bond was at a Worcester Action Against Flooding meeting when the rain started to fall on Friday 20 July.

After the flooding of 2000 the Environment Agency had begun to put barriers across the road from their Hylton Road home, next to the River Severn, if flooding was imminent.

"By 11pm there were still no barriers. The water hadn't started to seep over but there were big puddles. We rang the Environment Agency and they said the barriers would go up at 2am," she said.

Rescued by boat

The couple went to bed but at 4am Mrs Bond went to look out of the window.

Nine inches (22cm) of floodwater flowed into the downstairs bathroom

"I just screamed. The water had gone way past our house and was going along the drive of the house next door. And there were no barriers."

The couple alerted their neighbours and rang their son to come to help move belongings upstairs and to cover air vents to stop water getting in.

But, despite their best efforts the water poured in, 6in (15cm) high in the downstairs bathroom and 9in (23cm) high in the kitchen.

Eventually they were rescued by boat.

Toys lost

They hoped to return home quite soon. But, with floorboards, carpets, and most of the kitchen and bathroom ruined, they have had to get used to living in rented accommodation - a 15-minute drive away from their home.

A peaceful looking River Severn viewed from the upstairs window

The insurance company is paying the rent but the couple are bracing themselves for when their policy has to be renewed. One woman in the same road now has a �1,000 excess.

"We managed to get all our personal things upstairs but we lost all our grandchildren's toys which were in the garden shed," Mrs Bond said.

"It is very upsetting and I have good days and bad days. When I visit the house and go upstairs I tend to get a bit upset. We had turned the bedrooms into rooms for our grandchildren and I hate seeing them covered in dust.

"And I miss the views across the river and the racecourse.

"It's devastating. I hope we never have to go through it again."