The Environment
Agency swung into action in south Cornwall
today providing support to people whose
homes and businesses were devastated by
yesterday’s (Wed) winter floods.
The Environment Agency
swung into action in south Cornwall today
providing support to people whose homes
and businesses were devastated by yesterday’s
(Wed) winter floods.
More than 200 properties
were damaged after intense rain sent flood
water pouring into homes in nine towns and
villages including St Austell, Losthwithiel,
Pentewan, St Blazey, Portloe, Luxulyan,
Mevagissey, Par and Launceston.
Worst hit was Losthwithiel
where the River Fowey over-topped its bank
and flooded dozens of properties in low-lying
parts of the town.
As the clean-up operation
begins, Environment Agency Operations Delivery
staff have been out in force clearing debris
from screens and ensuring flood defences
are working well. Teams worked through the
night helping flood-hit communities across
southern Cornwall and have already removed
150 tonnes of debris.
A series of public meetings
were held at Losthwithiel, Mevagissey and
St Blazey on Wednesday evening where local
residents were provided with the latest
information and advice about the flooding.
Copies of the Agency’s ‘After a Flood’ booklet
were distributed to residents. Another session
will be held in Pentewan this evening.
A series of flood surgeries
will be held over the coming weeks where
Agency staff will listen to the experiences
of people and use any information gathered
to improve the Agency’s response and support
of local communities in the future.
Caroline Spelman, Secretary
of State for the Department of Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), visited
Cornwall today to meet residents and see
the flood damage for herself.
The Environment Agency
is currently gathering information on the
severity and extent of the flooding. Latest
figures indicate around 200 properties were
affected.
A screen on the flood
defence at Pentewan became blocked causing
15 properties to be flooded. Agency staff
tried to reach Pentewan, but their journey
was delayed by flooded roads and they were
unable to clear the screen in time so floodwater
overtopped the defences. A journey that
normally takes staff 45 minutes took 3 hours.
It is estimated the
Agency’s 30 flood defences across Cornwall
protected more than 2,800 properties from
flooding. Despite the abnormally high volume
of water flowing into Cornwall’s streams
and rivers, the vast majority of flood defence
structures performed well and protected
local communities.
The majority of flooding
was caused by surface water including run-off
from roads. In other places it was a combination
of surface water and small streams over-topping
their banks. In Lostwithiel approximately
70 properties were flooded after two tributaries
of the River Fowey, the Tanhouse Stream
and Whispering Water, were unable to cope
with the flows and sent floodwater into
parts of the town.
A flood warning was
issued for the River Fowey, but it was not
possible to issue flood alerts for the many
streams and tributaries that flow into the
river because of the speed with which they
respond to heavy rainfall.
‘We sympathise with
everyone who has flooded. Our staff have
been working around the clock to clear debris
and assist with the recovery. We have also
met with local communities to listen to
their concerns,’ said Alan Burrows for the
Environment Agency.
We urge people to sign
up for free river and sea flood warnings
by visiting our website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk
or calling 0845 988 1188.
+ More
Environment Agency Wales
takes targeted approach to tackling ‘misconnections’
in Caldicot
Environment Agency Wales
has this week stepped up its efforts to
help protect a local brook by targeting
properties in the Caldicot area.
Officers from the Agency
spent Wednesday (November 24th) visiting
residents and asking them to check their
drainage which led to several misconnections
being uncovered.
The Agency says the
sewage pipes of many houses on the estates
surrounding the Nedern Brook are incorrectly
connected to surface water drains, instead
of foul sewers. This has led to the brook
being contaminated with grey water from
dishwashers and washing machines.
Phil Howell of Environment
Agency Wales said: “We’ve been working hard
to improve the water quality in the Nedern
Brook and we’re delighted that our efforts
are starting to pay off.
“We’ve been visiting
as many householders as we can to encourage
them to check their drainage. We’ve also
checked and ruled out a street near the
castle grounds.
"Anyone wanting
help to check their drainage should contact
us direct. Our officers are happy to provide
advice and guidance. We all need to work
together to stamp out the long standing
pollution problems of the Nedern Brook and
return it to its former glory.”
In October, the Agency
also visited the Caldicot Town Market and
spoke to more than 100 residents about their
drainage. Officers gave advice and helped
people to check the connections at their
property, and explained what to do if a
house was found to be misconnected.
The campaign is supported
by a number of local councillors, including
John Marshall, Ron Stewart and Tony Easson.
Cllr Marshall added:
“I’m pleased to see that the hard work of
Environment Agency Wales is starting to
make a difference for the Nedern Brook.
If the community pulls together the brook
will continue to recover.”
You can help your environment
by reporting any incidents of pollution,
illegal tipping of waste, poaching, fish
in distress, or danger to the natural environment
to the Environment Agency, via its 24 hour
free phone number 0800 80 70 60. The hotline
operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Calls are free from a landline and mobiles
are charged at their normal network rate.
Information is treated in the strictest
confidence.
