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| | Monday, 6 January, 2003, 09:48 GMT Flooding: Have you been affected?  Disruption on Britain's roads and railways is likely to continue due to heavy rain and widespread flooding. More than 140 flood warnings are still in place and the torrential rain is forecast to last through Thursday bringing the risk of further flooding. Thousands of homeowners in flood-prone areas have also been warned by the Environment Agency that flooding of some homes may be "virtually inevitable". They have been urged to protect their homes and property. Do you feel that the government has handled the crisis effectively? Have you been affected by the floods? Send us your experiences using the form below. This Talking Point has now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.
Keith, England The Environment Agency has been promoting flood awareness for some years now. I have taken action as a result of their mailshots. If people choose to ignore these warnings then that is up to them. I work at Chertsey Fire Station and have spent the last two days up to my thighs in ice cold river water and sewage, using the brigade's river rescue equipment. For firefighters, who apparently don't do river or water rescues (according to Mr Bain), I don't think we did too bad. Our station alone rescued nearly one hundred people and their assorted animals today. Perhaps the local government agencies that have authorised the building of dwelling houses on flood plains should be held liable. After all, there's nothing arcane or highbrow about figuring out the potential consequences of building on a flood plain. To assist cerebrally challenged bureaucrats, there's even a clue in the name. I think the Environment Agency has done a great job in giving us flood warnings here in Hertfordshire. We have always had a great deal of contact with them and they have kept us up-to-date with the latest info. We know that to change a river or get flood defences takes a lot of time so we are pleased that we are getting flood warnings in the short term to keep us aware of the situation. The fact that Chertsey has been hit by floods again is of no surprise to the residents. Development on the flood plain has continued unabated since the floods two years ago - not essential housing but office developments with large underground car parks displacing large areas of the water table. One such development on Free Prae Road, an area currently hit by the floods, required the excavated site to be pumped out continuously for nearly six months before the building work could commence. The Environment Agency must have the power to veto such irresponsible planning decisions before areas such as Chertsey become uninhabitable.
Chris J, UK Well, I think our Belgian friend is right. If we spent as much effort on doing our bit for global warming as we do moaning about our flooded fate we might all look forward to a far more stable future weather-wise. The government has many faults, most of them come down to short sightedness, not looking after our drainage, allowing building on flood plains, and refusing to take the responsibility of decision for the part of renewable resources in our future. In some areas flooding is a part of nature and has always happened in others we have created the problem by trying to solve one somewhere else. A bit more thought and action seems necessary. I haven't been affected yet - my new recumbent bike has pedals well clear of the water levels on the only flooded road I commonly use - but a guy I know was forced to drive to work because the flood was above bottom bracket height on his bike. I hope that never happens to me. We have a global problem. Instead of cutting down forests, we, the world, should be replacing and planting more trees. How else is water going to be retained in its right place but the rooting systems of trees and shrubs? We are not the only country to suffer, look at India, for example. There has not been any "new" water on our planet since it was created. We are our own enemies on this one - but I believe only a global solution will help us. Ever since people have built houses, they have chosen to live close to rivers. Periodic flooding is a price they were prepared to pay for the convenience of a source of water, food, transport, and effluent disposal. Now people seem to want the scenic amenity of river life without the flooding. Sorry, it can't be done! If you live at, or near, river level you are going to get flooded sometime and there is nothing government or engineers can do about it. This is your choice and you must accept the consequences.
Robert O, UK I was flooded in 2000, and I am currently awaiting the current one to arrive as my home is now sandbagged. Directly after the 2000 flood, all the local drains were cleared by a big truck that "hoovered" them out. The water seeped up through the roadside drainage system - we were not flooded from the local River Wey. The local council explained that the British Army was mobilised by them, to assist with this crisis, but as the Local Water Authority was now a Private company, they had no power to order them to do anything. After a lot of talk, the local council did say that they would do their best to improve Flood defences, but this would take time and since the last flood before 2000 was 1968, perhaps not such a priority for them... Here we are in 2003, and nothing has been done, and no doubt AFTER the water has subsided, the drains will get cleared. These Drains should be cleared before, not after!! I can't wait until the local and national elections. The Environmental Agency floodline is a total disaster and waste of money. Currently all they are saying is that the River Thames water level is high and continuing to rise. It burst its banks two days ago and various house in the village are flooded. Two years ago we were told what to expect in respect of how much higher the water was likely to rise and at what time the peak level was expected. This time. Absolutely nothing. Yet listening to the radio they think they are doing a great job. Some of us know better.
Rich, UK Our group of cottages are 150 years old, according to records they have been flooded twice, 2 years ago and New Years Day. Meanwhile, the ditches near us remain dry. 4 of us spent 3 hours opening the drains and run off's into these ditches and surprise, surprise the roads drained and the flood water subsided. Too late for our gardens and my neighbours house. It is time councils stopped short term money saving and returned to maintaining gullies and ditches. When with the government and local authorities realise that the problem are partly being cause by building on known flood plains and also the fact that the ditch and drain clearing which used to happen, doesn't now. If the ditches and drains were cleaned regularly in the East Peckham and Yalding area, this may well help things. As a child I lived in Coxheath and know this area well. It never used to be this bad 20 years ago. I find it sad that so many people on here are blaming the Government/Local Authorities for the flooding. It would be nice to see a few more people taking some of the responsibility for global warming themselves. How many of them have taken positive action? No doubt if we have a dry spell of a few weeks in the summer we'll have a drought. This country is prepared for nothing.
David Titterington, Belgium The world is going to get wetter, it's been predicted for 20 years. You pay your money and you take your choice. Live on high ground. It's all very well for you with houses to complain of more building being the problem, but we left the UK in the 1970s because we could not afford to buy a house on a mechanic's wage, and if you had children renting was impossible, it was like you had a disease! So spare a thought for the "Cathy Come Home " innocents, and if you are fifty you will know the documentary film, if you are younger then find a copy and then spout your indignations. There are no problems, just solutions - like plant more trees instead of roads! Let's forget the war on Iraq and spend the money on a far closer and more disruptive problem. Let's have a war on blocked drains and flooding rivers! It is time the government made it law that farmers dig their ditches regularly, the councils clean the drains regularly and the environmental agency dredge the rivers each year. That surely would be the end of the misery thousands of people have to go through when it rains. Next time you vote - remember these things. It's all very well blaming developers building on flood plains or groaning about the possibility of the government spending a little money on those facing ruin by the floods, but many moaners are forgetting one important fact. Many of the places hit yet again are in fact ancient villages that have been populated for hundreds of years - which suggests that the dramatic scenes of flooding are a modern problem caused by global warming and poor environmental management. So stop your whinging and help these poor people who are facing a miserable January yet again and financial ruin with houses they can't sell or insure.
Alex Kerr, UK Is there any way to get the government to read the comments on this page? The overwhelming majority of people seem to have reached a conclusion that the government and planning departments simply can't see - don't build on flood plains, they're so named for a reason! And yet even now in Northampton, houses are being built next to the river Nene on a site that was under water in 1998. Every resident of the town knows how stupid that is - except, of course, those that made the decision to allow the development to go ahead. Now, I wonder what benefit they could possibly have seen in it?
Linda, England My trusty old Land Rover got me through over 4 feet of water on flooded roads yesterday. Good old Land Rover It's not only the building of homes in flood plains that's the issue here. The more we cover what used to be green fields with concrete and tarmac, the more quickly rainwater turns into floodwater as it runs off straight into the rivers (instead of being held in the soil and released more gradually). Back to school, all you planners and developers! It's all very well gloating about those of us unlucky enough to have lost literally tens of thousands of pounds in house price reductions and flooding costs, what I want to know is when is this so-called Labour government going to do something to help the common people out. My unluckier friends are literally living in a river. Instead of building houses on flood planes, developers should start exploiting the clearly vacant niche in the market for ark builders.
Graham Innocent, UK A village near me flooded earlier in the year - my family has been living there for over 30 years and it has never happened before. I would rather we go back to real winters not these floods we seem to be getting every year now. In looking to explain the reasons for increased flooding, I'm not surprised to see many people point to "greedy" developers building on flood plains. But let's remember that developers can only build where our elected representatives allow them to. We should also remember that "greedy" developers are those we turn to help regenerate run-down areas, and build the homes that we all aspire to.
Alistair, England As a Lewes resident, seeing the water levels rising is an all too familiar site, yet the local authorities have done nothing in practical terms towards protecting the town since the floods of 2000 which saw over a thousand people affected in this small market town. As has been stated, developers continue to build on flood plains. And the reason? Simple - it's cheap land. How about some legislation that says developers have to provide adequate provision to prevent flooding in new residential areas built on flood plains? The garden has flooded quite badly, and the garage has an inch of water. Fortunately the house looks okay as is the front. Which is just as well as I left my and my sons Wellington boots out by the back door before Christmas and they have filled with water.
Rob Glehdill, England As a resident of East Peckham, I was quite disturbed to find that my whole street had flooded when I returned from work. It was only when I later found out that no flood warnings had been given despite signing up to a system to warn people of such things that I was even more disturbed. Some people think we are as ready for floods as we are ever going to be. I fear this to be true.
Andrew, UK Rivers bursting their banks are one thing, but when did you last see roadside drains being cleared? Most of our local roads are flooded through nothing more than poor maintenance. Worn out and pitted surfaces don't help either. A word of warning if you take your car in for repairs in a flood-prone area. My car was in a garage for a minor repair during the October 2000 floods in East Sussex. The garage was flooded when the nearby river overflowed and my car was destroyed by the water. The garage's insurers refused to pay-out despite the garage's legal responsibility for the care of my vehicle. So check before you leave your car behind....
Olly, UK Live near a river and you'll get wet. It does not take a lot of common sense to realise that moving to higher ground will keep you dry. My dad always tells me this flooding is down to the rivers and waterways not being dredged and having their weeds cut back like they used to, I guess it's just another of the government's cut backs... Despite the ongoing flooding problems local councils continue to give planning permission for the building of new homes on areas liable to flood. Near my home 180 new houses are being built on water meadows that were too wet to allow the heavy machinery to be used during the winter, and another estate is due to be started shortly. Nature will win every time. You cannot fight it, merely postpone the inevitable. Our problems stem from overpopulation, resulting in people demanding more houses, and developers too greedy to miss the chance to build on open land, including flood plains. The problem has to be addressed, but not by more and more building in rural areas. It is time that cities looked upwards instead of outwards to accommodate the populous.
Dougie Lawson, Basingstoke, UK In Gerrards Cross the B416 (a main artery linking the A40 with Slough) is flooded and has turned the highway outside our house into a cul-de-sac. Up until 2 years ago it had never happened before. The councils' engineers erected a pontoon bridge whilst they "corrected" the drainage issues but it has obviously not had any effect. We must now drive 2 miles in the opposite direction to reach Slough via Fulmer village thus doubling our journey. And people still drive through the police blockade and send flood water into the already flooded gardens of the local residents. I don't know what's worse - the flooding, or the motorists' ignorance? I live on the flood plain and feel that the rain should be legislated against. A long custodial sentence should be imposed on the weather if it exceeds a certain amount of rainfall per year.
Phillip Holley, UK Isn't it somehow typical that when there are 140 flood warnings that the Environmental Agency's flood warning website say it is currently unavailable, and that when you ring the hotline to find out what is happening in your area it then gives you information about another part of the country. Not what I would call good service, but somehow I wasn't as surprised as I should have been at such incompetence. People should take responsibility themselves when considering where they buy a house. I live in a top floor apartment at the top of a hill in London, and had to double-glaze windows and carry out lots of remedial and preventative repairs against rain penetration. If people buy somewhere that floods that is their own lookout, and shouldn't come looking for money from those who are more sensible via help from Government funds. Apart from getting soaked going to and from work I've been lucky enough to escape any major troubles from the rain. The land around our house slopes broadly downward in most directions so it's unlikely we'll get flooded, except if the roof leaks. | |
See also:  03 Jan 03 | UK 02 Jan 03 | UK Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top Talking Point stories now: Links to more Talking Point stories are at the foot of the page. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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