At least thirty Ludlow homes were flooded yesterday. Mostly on Lower Corve Street and Temeside. One resident Corve Street resident said: “The water when we evacuated was up to the level of our kitchen work top.” According to the Environment Agency, the Teme peaked at 5.20 metres. That is only 2cm lower that the highest level recorded in Ludlow on Saturday 21st July 2007. Tenbury High Street is flooded. Reports suggest over 1,000 homes have been flooded across the UK. More rain is falling and will continue to fall most of the week. But river levels in the Teme catchment are dropping.
Below I publish additional photos and videos from yesterday (Sunday) along with a statement from Clive Wright, chief executive of Shropshire Council.
Clive Wright, chief executive of Shropshire Council, emailed me at 7:30am this morning in response to questions I had asked earlier:
“It was a very challenging weekend across the County and particularly in Ludlow yesterday. As I’m sure you know, a major incident was declared and so multi-agency emergency planning processes were in operation.
“Unfortunately, there is no specific funding for those affected by flooding. The government has previously made funds available to certain locations and for specific dates, but not nationally or in Shropshire. This is usually a matter for the people concerned and their home insurance.
“The Council will assist with the clean up and our highways staff will be ‘on the ground’ to assess and respond. Most of these staff have also worked right through the weekend with little sleep.
“I am very grateful to everyone for helping wherever they could.”
I know how hard highways and emergency planning staff work in situations like this. Their work is not over yet. Although river levels are dropping fast along the Teme catchment, further north in the county, including Shrewsbury, they are rising and the Severn at Welsh Bridge is not expecting to peak until 5pm today.
I couldn’t post the images below yesterday because my phone had taken on water and needed to dry out! That is a trivial issue compared to the problems faced by residents who have been flooded out of their homes. Ludlovians have already shown their generosity and I know that everyone in Ludlow will help where they are able to.
Is it possible to create a centre where those of us wanting to donate goods to help those flooded could take them? In 2007 I made personal contact with 2 families in Lower Corve St to give them stuff, but it would be much better to centralise and let those wanting to help know via media.
Is it possible to create a centre where those of us wanting to donate goods to help those flooded could take them? In 2007 I made personal contact with 2 families in Lower Corve St to give them stuff, but it would be much better to centralise and let those wanting to help know via media.
CAN’t say Voters weren’t warned…VOTE TORY/LIB DEM and result:
Slashed flood defence budgets have left the nation at the mercy of the wilder weather that climate change is bringing, according to the outgoing chair of the Environment Agency.
Lord Chris Smith, who steps down in July after a sometimes stormy six-year stint, said reduced funds and rising risks were an “inconvenient truth” and that failing to improve flood protection in the face of more frequent and extreme events was a false economy.
In an interview with the Guardian, he also said: the environment secretary, Owen Paterson, does not accept that global warming is due to the carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel burning;
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jun/26/lord-smith-flooding-budget-cuts-climate-change-extreme-weather
From 2014 – Coalition Government
“Massive” and ongoing cuts to the budget of the department of environment, food and rural affairs mean its ability to respond to emergencies such as flooding is in danger, according to a report by MPs published on Tuesday.
“Recent flooding events reinforce our concerns about cuts to the Defra budget. It is a small ministry facing massive cuts,” said Anne McIntosh, Conservative MP and chairman of the Efra select committee. “Ministers must clarify how further budgets will impact on … the ability of the department to respond to emergencies.”
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jan/07/england-floods-budget-cuts