Worcestershire News
What’s to stop our homes flooding again?
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| Mark Baker and Don Thomas at the site of the flooding that swamped their gardens. Picture by Paul Jackson. 18381804 |
PEOPLE living near a Worcester brook say they fear their homes could flood again after a recent storm swamped their gardens.
Couples Don and Jayne Thomas and Emma and Mark Baker, both of Bath Road, Worcester, saw their back gardens inundated after torrential rainfall, on Wednesday, April 30.
Within half an hour of the first raindrops, both gardens were under 1ft (0.3 metre) of water.
Mrs Thomas, who has lived in her home for seven years, said until July's storms last year there were no problems with flooding.
She said: "It is the stress. Every time it rains we get worried."
The neighbours are convinced that a nearby concrete culvert taking the Duck Brook under the Bath Road is the cause of their problems.
Mr Baker, who only moved back into his home a month ago after being flooded out in July, said: "They put a grille over the culvert's mouth a year ago and it stops the rubbish getting in.
"But it also builds up and stops the water getting down the culvert."
On the opposite side of the brook from the homes is Cherry Orchard Primary School, in Timberdine Close - it also narrowly avoided being flooded on the same day.
Mr Baker said that once the water backs up behind the grille the brook bursts its banks, flooding both the field it runs through and neighbours' gardens.
The Environment Agency fitted the culvert's "trash screen", and cleared bank debris following the July floods after categorising the brook as a high flood risk.
Agency staff did clear the trash screen during the storm but spokesman Michelle Dolphin said responsibility for removing rubbish lay with Worcester City Council, which owns the field and banks of the brook.
She added: "We have the powers to go in and clear the brook if its not being maintained."
Ian Yates, Worcester City Council parks and cemeteries manager, said: "We and the Environment Agency work together to maintain the brook and surrounding land."
Battenhall Conservative city councillor Robert Rowden who highlighted the issue after visiting the scene described the current situation as "unsatisfactory."
10:19am Tuesday 13th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: local resident, worcester on 10:25am Tue 13 May 08
Oh dear, cant they remove rubbish in order to stop their homes being flooded?
While other people play politics why not take action?
Oh dear, cant they remove rubbish in order to stop their homes being flooded?
While other people play politics why not take action?
Posted by: kaz, worcester on 12:31pm Tue 13 May 08
isn't it what we pay tax for, what are the highways dept doing , sitting drinking tea and I guess
isn't it what we pay tax for, what are the highways dept doing , sitting drinking tea and I guess
Posted by: molcat, worcester on 2:03pm Tue 13 May 08
These poor peoples gardens were flooded! How awful! Perhaps everyone in Burma could start an appeal for them! If you live on a flood plain you are likely to get flooded. Shut up whinging about your sodden lawns or move to higher ground!
These poor peoples gardens were flooded! How awful! Perhaps everyone in Burma could start an appeal for them! If you live on a flood plain you are likely to get flooded. Shut up whinging about your sodden lawns or move to higher ground!
Posted by: varien, worcester on 4:34pm Tue 13 May 08
[quote]Agency staff did clear the trash screen during the storm but spokesman Michelle Dolphin said responsibility for removing rubbish lay with Worcester City Council, which owns the field and banks of the brook.[/quote]
As long as these sort of childish attitudes exist there will always be problems. It's about time people in "authority" started acting like responsible adults
Agency staff did clear the trash screen during the storm but spokesman Michelle Dolphin said responsibility for removing rubbish lay with Worcester City Council, which owns the field and banks of the brook.
As long as these sort of childish attitudes exist there will always be problems. It's about time people in "authority" started acting like responsible adults
Posted by: cmot, Worcester on 4:58pm Tue 13 May 08
[quote][bold]kaz[/bold] wrote:
isn't it what we pay tax for, what are the highways dept doing , sitting drinking tea and I guess [/quote] If you can do better in highways than the people already there, then apply for a job there.
If you think the highways dept do no work and drink lots of tea, then what a cushy litte job you'll have when you succeed with your application. So apply without delay Kaz.
kaz wrote:
isn't it what we pay tax for, what are the highways dept doing , sitting drinking tea and I guess
If you can do better in highways than the people already there, then apply for a job there.
If you think the highways dept do no work and drink lots of tea, then what a cushy litte job you'll have when you succeed with your application. So apply without delay Kaz.
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