Forum Topic

Thank our lucky stars

...   that we are not affected by the rising water, breaking river banks and threat of dams bursting.  I can't imagine how it must be, to be fearful of rain.

Sarah Felstead ● 6549d18 Comments

Much of the flooding is due to the short sighted policy of building on flood plains Joan. Which also has the effect of flooding areas farther back upstream that had never been affected before.

Colin Vaughan ● 6547d

Nice to see you posting again Jim. You have been missed. Believe me.  I have been watching on the news the flooding in UK. So this flooding is lack of drains?  Hope it clears soon for the residents.Joan.

Joan Perry ● 6548d

There's still a part of Brentford that gets pretty badly flooded every time there is a heavy shower!Two weeks ago on a Saturday..there was a 15 minute cloudburst..and I knew exactly where to go to get a picture!Poor Windmill Road North!!Residents keep phoning for help..but they say nothing gets done. It's on the Ealing/Hounslow border..and no one knows if its a Council or a Water Board responsibity.------------------------------------------------------The rain often laps door steps..and certainly front garden pathways!------------------------------------------------------Serously..the road becomes impassable for pedestrians.. unless they want a soaking.. and I never chanced it on my bike!-----------------------------------------------------------It seems that locals and bus drivers have got used to it...it's been a problem for many years!-----------------------------------------------------------Only one line of traffic can pass.. down the middle of the road.-----------------------------------------------------------Surely someone should be sorting this out?  Syon Ward?

Jim Lawes ● 6548d

I wonder if the Government, and Ruth Kelly in particular, have even given a thought as to what might happen in Thames Gateway, should such a situation as occured in the Midlands and The North happens in the South. Forecaster Phillip Eden recons that the slow moving type of weather that happens during Summer months, and being slow, tends to discharge most of its rain in one place, occures every twelve years or so at the sort of ferosity we have seen in the last few days. By the time the 16000 homes are built there, she, no doubt will have long since retired into the woodwork of History!

Colin Vaughan ● 6548d

"I'm sure virtually no one bothers to check when thinking of buying a house, when was the spot last flooded."Wouldn't this be something that would show up in the search?

Dan Evans ● 6548d

There is an interesting article in Illustrated London News archives, of when Sheffield was flooded before in 'The Great Sheffield Flood Disaster - March 11th - 1864'. It was caused by a reservoir breaking. See: http://www.iln.org.uk/iln_years/year/sheffielddisaster.htm

Duncan Walker ● 6548d

Thanks for that Joan. I think her insurance co. have settled up ok,just awaiting the car ins.She is ok,thankyou. A bit shaken up and upset about losing things of sentimental value.Wife and I were going to go end of July but have had to revise plans.atbKeith

Keith Iddon ● 6549d

Keith I did hear on the radio that insurance companies are trying to work out if it's an act of God or a natural flood before they start paying out. I really feel for the people of Newcastle who have to fight these companies. I can only imagine what they're going through. Let's hope Newcastle isn't 'battered' again with this new 'low' weather system going through soon. I hope your mum and others are okay.Joan from South Australia.

Joan Perry ● 6549d

There is plenty of higher ground available to live on, the fact that property developers choose to take cheap flood prone land and build on it and people are foolish enough not to bother checking the nearest path water would take, is evidence that people are not learning from history, and with todays, blame everyone else culture, its about time people put their thinking heads on when it comes to property choice.

John Smith ● 6549d

Indeed,my poor Munm in Newcastle NSW was thigh deep in water in her house in the recent Hunter Valley floods.She has had to decamp to my sister's house(2 inches deep) and everything is drying out now.

Keith Iddon ● 6549d

I vaguely remember as a child the river overflowing into Mortlake High St and having to wade down to the shop, and people were always leaving their cars on the slip road down to the river by the Ship Inn and they would not be able to get them out again until the tide turned.

Helen Fogarth ● 6549d

Helen John needs to get down to Church Street in Twickenham and take a look at the marker on the wall around the church grounds. On his logic, there would be nobody living in Surrey, Middlesex or for that matter, most of the south of England if he feels that people shouldn't live in areas where there are records of flooding.

Gareth Evans ● 6549d

Just wait till Brentford goes under, I am alright I got a 4X4

Helen Fogarth ● 6549d

Nonsense.

Gareth Evans ● 6549d

You shouldn't have to move to higher ground if the councils got the funds to build new sewers and drains, or the water companies spent some of it's profits on this problem. also some people in Sheffield have complained about the drains not being cleaned out for years.

Helen Fogarth ● 6549d

Whilst I'm sympthetic, it always amazes me how in this country at least, people will live in such places and not simply move to higher ground, or help construct local flood defences.I'm sure virtually no one bothers to check when thinking of buying a house, when was the spot last flooded..

John Smith ● 6549d

I think we are being affected in a way - I saw two dead rats on the roads in the last couple of days. The water levels in the sewers must be rising and forcing them up.

Nicola Brown ● 6549d

Sarah I agree with you. I'm more scared of thunder and lightning. I've just read on the MSN site that it's China's Monsoon season. Already killing 48, most by lightning strikes. Sydney, which is on the East coast of Australia is again getting a pounding from severe weather. Then also yourselves in the Midlands. Where I live we get heavy rain but we've never been close to being flooded. (Touching wood as I speak). I suppose the weather can't always be perfect. Hope all is well with everyone as I close down for the night. Joan

Joan Perry ● 6549d