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Flood wardens enlisted to warn residents
FLOOD wardens are to be enlisted to warn homeowners of rising water levels on the River Frome in Stonehouse.
Town councillors hope the move will reassure 10 residents who face a deluge from a tributary whenever more than an inch of rain falls.
But residents in Downton Road, Bridgend argue they have been monitoring water levels themselves since 2000 and need a long-term solution.
Mark and Michele Horner, both 41, of Bridgend Farmhouse have been flooded five times since July, including once on Sunday last week.
Mr Horner, a managing director, said: "Every time we have heavy rain, the out buildings and the back garden flood.
"I spent my birthday last Sunday sweeping water out of the house. "Fortunately, we've put in stone floors and raised the electrics, so it didn't cause much damage."
The floods have so far destroyed property of theirs totalling more than £350,000, including a new Jaguar.
Jon Kent, 41, of Fairview Cottage, was flooded in July and his garden has been hit three times since.
"You just can't live like this," he said.
"Every time you get one inch of rain, you have to worry that your house is going to be flooded."
The floods have destroyed property of his totalling more than £35,000, including a new hot tub.
"We spend four months in a caravan over Christmas," said the carpenter.
"We had to have the whole ground floor ripped apart and put back together."
The tributary bursts its banks because its has to take more water from housing developments upstream and it is blocked with trees.
Flood water then runs into homes instead of a nearby flood meadow because the one foot thick layer of tarmac on the road acts as a dam.
The problem is compounded due to the silted-up Stroudwater Canal, which floods into the swollen tributary.
"Some of the bits of tributary are only six feet wide and four feet deep, but you're asking them to drain 10 to 15 square miles," explained Mr Kent.
Residents have been asking town councillors for nine months to put pressure the Environment Agency to clear the river and county highways to level the road.
"We've spoken to everyone and everyone keeps passing the buck," said Mr Horner.
He branded the flood wardens an aesthetic solution'.
"I don't see any benefit. What's the warden going to do?"
Mr Kent added: "If every department just did a little bit of work, you would stop the flood altogether.
"They're very good at talking about things, but nothing seems to happen."
Residents took councillors on a tour of the river in January to explain the problem.
Cllr David Drew said: "We have a major problem.
"I went down to the canal the other day and there was nowhere for the water to go. The water table isn't going down at all."
He urged councillors to employ a river expert to identify the cause of the problem and present a case to the Environment Agency and county highways.
Chairman Mattie Ross said: "It's an awful, awful situation."
She said the £60,000 government flood relief money all went to Painswick and Slad.
Cllr Chris Brine, head of the regeneration and environment committee, said: "Every time it starts to rain, we have people in our town who are fearing they're going to be flooded.
"They're living next to a water pump."
He said the council should find the cause of the problem and target money at it.
Cllr Brine added that landowners should take more responsibility for the problem.
A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: "We regularly cut tress and remove any debris that we think are causing a flood risk on the River Frome.
"We have the power, but not a responsibility to maintain the river.
"It's the landowners river responsibility."
She also stressed, due to EU law, the agency could not remove tress from March to July because of nesting birds.
A spokesman for county highways said the road was surfaced in consultation with the Environment Agency.
"We did keep a gateway low to allow water to run off the road as the water flow needs to be carefully regulated in this area so as not create even more problems downstream.
"We are not aware of any changes to the water flow since the work was carried out."
12:00pm Wednesday 26th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Rose Ellis, Bridgend on 1:06pm Sat 29 Mar 08
I agree with all Jon Kent's comments in the article on flooding in Stonehouse.Can't really see the use of flood wardens - we can see for ourselves when we are danger! A river expert who could possibly pinpoint the problems, would be a good idea, but only if something was then done to alleviate the problems. Our cottages are over 100 years old, and we understand they had never actually been flooded until 2000, and that was because of faulty sluicegates which have now been repaired. Now, just a few hours of rain means we have to man the pumps which we have bought. Without these, our homes would have been flooded at least twice this year. We are scared to go away for a few days, and can't go on like this.We are bothe retired, and in 5 years time I don't think we'll be able to man the pumps all night. We should sell up, but who will want to buy it, it will be worth peanuts! And we are very happy here, apart from the flood danger.I do hope someone will take notice and try to help us.
I agree with all Jon Kent's comments in the article on flooding in Stonehouse.Can't really see the use of flood wardens - we can see for ourselves when we are danger! A river expert who could possibly pinpoint the problems, would be a good idea, but only if something was then done to alleviate the problems. Our cottages are over 100 years old, and we understand they had never actually been flooded until 2000, and that was because of faulty sluicegates which have now been repaired. Now, just a few hours of rain means we have to man the pumps which we have bought. Without these, our homes would have been flooded at least twice this year. We are scared to go away for a few days, and can't go on like this.We are bothe retired, and in 5 years time I don't think we'll be able to man the pumps all night. We should sell up, but who will want to buy it, it will be worth peanuts! And we are very happy here, apart from the flood danger.I do hope someone will take notice and try to help us.
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