Somerset Levels

[The Tinker]

As an aside is anybody intending to compensate those in Dorset who have experienced a few problems over these past weeks and months albeit with far less TV coverage and whingeing.[/quote]

The whole of the uk has suffered terribly over the last month or so - I feel Somerset has made the politicians stand up and take account of the whole situation and when the Environment Agency is restructured and future plans made - Dorset will benefit from this.

[Manoverboard]

I do not actually believe that all these problems can or will be solved, it's a bit like sea defences where a compromise will have to be made based on funds available and the benefit of spending upteen millions on a major return vs a lost cause. Mother Nature is in charge here ... not Mr Smth.

Let's face it ... they will save London or Birmingham at all costs but a few villages on a flood plain, highly unlikely.

[haveabeer]

Thanks MoB for your support
Instead of spending billions on a train or supporting other countries with tax payers money why not support the very people that pay the taxes in times of need

[Mervyn and Trish]

They spent £20 million on a nature reserve. That's five times what it would have cost to dredge the rivers properly. Now much as I enjoy the birdlife in the UK that seems like the wrong priority to me.

[Manoverboard]

HaB ... I share your concerns but I am simply trying to inject some realism into an emotive subject.

[oldbluefox]

The Dutch don't seem to experience these problems.....................

[towny44]

The Dutch don't seem to experience these problems.....................

You can't really compare the economic benefits the Dutch receive from their "reclaimed" land with that provided by the agri-economy of the Somerset levels. If it were essential to the UK economy then I imagine the money would be made available, since the money is not forthcoming then I guess it ain't.

[Frank Manning]

The weather is causing problems in plenty of other places around the world. I believe that even dredging the rivers on the Somerset levels would only have lessened the severity of the floods to a limited extent. We regularly see the flood plains of the lower Dorset Stour flooded at Longham, and the Avon at Christchurch. It is just worse this time because the weather patterns have persisted for so long.

[oldbluefox]

Bearing in mind the change in weather patterns I don't think it is unreasonable for investment to be made in protecting people's homes and livelihoods in flood-prone areas which is why I mentioned the Dutch. If this means scrapping the HS train link to London or other pet projects of the government then so be it. We should also be looking at creating flood plains to hold the water back, stop building on water meadows, reinstate some of the dykes and ditches which farmers have filled in, dredge rivers to improve water flow etc. Whilst none of these measures will prevent flooding they will reduce the impact of flooding.
From what I read very little has been done to the rivers for the past 20 or so years. In that time they have naturally silted up, trees have died and fallen in, reeds and sedges have taken root in the newly created shallows and water flow restricted. This makes little difference in normal weather but, as we saw in the Cockermouth floods when we get extreme rain, shallows by bridges quickly become blocked by debris and fallen trees and from there on there is nowhere for the water to go. We are now paying for the neglect of rivers and water clearances of the past quarter century.

[Boris+]

Hi OBF,

Silly point - but if people have chosen to live in an area which is infamous for flooding, why should people in other parts of the UK have to contribute to protecting the homes in the flood-prone areas?

We made a decision always to be situated more than half way up a hill, with little chance of flooding - that is always our priority when buying a property. It doesn't matter how much more glorious or more rooms etc a property has at the same price: if there is even a small chance of flooding, we don't even go to look at it. So, if people wish to get 'more bang for their buck' (eg more rural, more idyllic, more picturesque or just simply 'bigger') when buying a property that's up to them and their need to feed their ego-image. I don't see why I should have to contribute to a fund to get them out of a problem.

I suppose the same goes for these farmers who bleat on about being hard-done by. If they have made 'improvements' to the land they farm and in so doing have contributed to the flooding problem, then they are running a business - and the business should bally-well shoulder the cost of the remedy (well their part of it at least).

The Dutch flood prevention scheme is a heck of a project - it was on a 'Coast' progamme a while ago. However, Holland has the advantage of having inland borders, whereas the UK simply has coastline all around. Then again, possibly the landmass of the UK provides some 'shelter' for Holland's coastline.


Em

[towny44]

Bearing in mind the change in weather patterns I don't think it is unreasonable for investment to be made in protecting people's homes and livelihoods in flood-prone areas which is why I mentioned the Dutch. If this means scrapping the HS train link to London or other pet projects of the government then so be it. We should also be looking at creating flood plains to hold the water back, stop building on water meadows, reinstate some of the dykes and ditches which farmers have filled in, dredge rivers to improve water flow etc. Whilst none of these measures will prevent flooding they will reduce the impact of flooding.
From what I read very little has been done to the rivers for the past 20 or so years. In that time they have naturally silted up, trees have died and fallen in, reeds and sedges have taken root in the newly created shallows and water flow restricted. This makes little difference in normal weather but, as we saw in the Cockermouth floods when we get extreme rain, shallows by bridges quickly become blocked by debris and fallen trees and from there on there is nowhere for the water to go. We are now paying for the neglect of rivers and water clearances of the past quarter century.

Foxy, Whilst I also think there may be better ways to invigorate the economy than spending billions on HS2, unfortunately spending on flood defences would be way down my list of priorities.
I sympathise with anyone whose home or farm has been flooded, but we can only do so much to protect vulnerable areas against extreme weather.
At least those in Somerset know that come spring and summer things will dry out, whereas some people on the East coast have lost their homes completely.

[david63]

Whilst Em I can agree with a lot of what you say I believe that there may be some who have been affected by the flooding through no cause of their own.

Discounting the dredging issue as I am not 100% convinced as to the impact that may or may not have had and it is becoming the "spin" topic there are probably some who although knowing the potential consequences of living where they did have fallen victim to other outside factors. For instance if someone bought a property some years back when there were no flooding issues and then subsequently other properties were built on the flood plain that has had the effect of causing their property to flood then that is not the problem of the first property owners.

OK there is a possible argument that the developers/owners of the later properties should foot the bill for sorting the mess out but I am not sure that the blame/cost can always be laid at the doorstep of those that have been affected.

The bottom line with all of this is that it is "mother nature" at work and we will never win (even with all our knowledge and technology).

[haveabeer]

As I sit here looking out the rain is lashing down and it blowing a gale my thoughts are with those a few miles down the road
I don't think now is the time for blame now is the time to reassure those affected of what will happen once this weather eases what can be done to get them back into there homes ASAP
There life is on hold at the moment they don't now what to do or how to do it or who is going to help them rebuild there lives
They need some light at the end of the tunnel
Once that is in place then will be the time to look at the options
Let's just hope that this weather changes soon

[Silver_Shiney]

The weather is causing problems in plenty of other places around the world. I believe that even dredging the rivers on the Somerset levels would only have lessened the severity of the floods to a limited extent. We regularly see the flood plains of the lower Dorset Stour flooded at Longham, and the Avon at Christchurch. It is just worse this time because the weather patterns have persisted for so long.

Blimey, I remember cycling through flood waters along Millhams Road from Kinson in 1970 to get to the petrol station I was working at just along from Longham - mad fool that I was then. The water came almost up to the bike axle - a good foot deep. Is that a council tip (sorry, recycling centre) I see just before the junction with Ringwood Road? Surely if that gets flooded, there would be considerably pollution?

[royalprincess]

I feel a cruise is called for in this terrible weather. Sadly OH doesn't agree. We have to buy a new car first he says. My old bones are aching from the weather.

The world climate is changing. My cousin in New York is housebound due to a third snow dump but there relief is offered immediately. No wringing of hands no visits from politicans who really don't do much - no heads of government agencies turning up in inappropriate footwear.

Why is it Venice doesn't flood? What do they do that we can learn from?

[Gill W]

The world climate is changing. My cousin in New York is housebound due to a third snow dump but there relief is offered immediately. No wringing of hands no visits from politicans who really don't do much - no heads of government agencies turning up in inappropriate footwear.

Maybe that's the case in New York, but maybe not for the rest of the USA..... try telling the people of New Orleans that immediate relief for a weather event was on hand

We made a decision always to be situated more than half way up a hill, with little chance of flooding - that is always our priority when buying a property. It doesn't matter how much more glorious or more rooms etc a property has at the same price: if there is even a small chance of flooding, we don't even go to look at it. So, if people wish to get 'more bang for their buck' (eg more rural, more idyllic, more picturesque or just simply 'bigger') when buying a property that's up to them and their need to feed their ego-image. I don't see why I should have to contribute to a fund to get them out of a problem.

Living half way up a hill doesn't make you flood proof. I live on high ground, well away from the river. But a couple of years ago, there was a very localised freak storm, and flash flooding occurred in my road and the roads immediately adjacent to my road. It was only the general topography that saved me - the roads channelled the excess water right past my house, at the front and the back. If the worst happened, I'm sure you'd be very upset if people just turned their backs on you and said, well, it's your choice to live on a hill, where water can flow down it.


Personally I feel terribly sorry for the people of the affected villages on the Somerset levels. Historically, this area has always flooded, so I'm sure the locals are well aware of the dangers. I've been reading that this is the worst period of rainfall for 250 years, so the Levels would have flooded anyway. But maybe, if a proper dredging programme had been in place, the floods wouldn't have been as extensive.

Yalding flooded again on Friday, and on the way to work, I see flooded fields. My husbands office is in an old farm building, and the lanes are flooded more badly than my husband has seen before. But it's very difficult to plan for 1 in 250 year events.

[The Tinker]

Hi OBF,

Silly point - but if people have chosen to live in an area which is infamous for flooding, why should people in other parts of the UK have to contribute to protecting the homes in the flood-prone areas?

We made a decision always to be situated more than half way up a hill, with little chance of flooding - that is always our priority when buying a property. It doesn't matter how much more glorious or more rooms etc a property has at the same price: if there is even a small chance of flooding, we don't even go to look at it. So, if people wish to get 'more bang for their buck' (eg more rural, more idyllic, more picturesque or just simply 'bigger') when buying a property that's up to them and their need to feed their ego-image. I don't see why I should have to contribute to a fund to get them out of a problem.
I suppose the same goes for these farmers who bleat on about being hard-done by. If they have made 'improvements' to the land they farm and in so doing have contributed to the flooding problem, then they are running a business - and the business should bally-well shoulder the cost of the remedy (well their part of it at least).

The Dutch flood prevention scheme is a heck of a project - it was on a 'Coast' progamme a while ago. However, Holland has the advantage of having inland borders, whereas the UK simply has coastline all around. Then again, possibly the landmass of the UK provides some 'shelter' for Holland's coastline.


Em

When your property subsides down the hill due to the erosion damage by lack of properly maintaining the ground levels from flood damage you might have to eat those words.

[Manoverboard]

We lived halfway up a steep hill in our previous home, ironically the draught of '76 caused some subsidence and one structural engineer suggested that we could even slide down the hill as a consequence.

The Insurer, not the Government nor the local council who granted the permissions to build, stumped up and thankfully all was well ... and still is it seems.

[Boris+]

Hi Tinker,

No, I don't think I'll be eating my words - it's pretty safe. I've tried my best to ensure that the home we live in is unlikely to be at risk, and the same (sort of) for the other properties we have too.

We did our homework before we wrote the cheque - and were quite satisfied that we shouldn't have any issues. We have insurance, we have other properties if necessary as a 'bolt-hole', just about the only thing which could happen here is something falling out of the sky (like a helicopter) - otherwise there's not a lot of risk.

Yes, ok, we did have 'thugs bunny' in our front garden last year, but that was quickly and humanely dealt with - and 'he' hasn't been seen since.

So, sorry - but I really don't think we have a risk.

Cheers

Em

[haveabeer]

Good for you em good job we all don't move to hills be very crowded

[david63]

Hi Tinker,

No, I don't think I'll be eating my words - it's pretty safe. I've tried my best to ensure that the home we live in is unlikely to be at risk, and the same (sort of) for the other properties we have too.

We did our homework before we wrote the cheque - and were quite satisfied that we shouldn't have any issues. We have insurance, we have other properties if necessary as a 'bolt-hole', just about the only thing which could happen here is something falling out of the sky (like a helicopter) - otherwise there's not a lot of risk.

Yes, ok, we did have 'thugs bunny' in our front garden last year, but that was quickly and humanely dealt with - and 'he' hasn't been seen since.

So, sorry - but I really don't think we have a risk.

Cheers

Em

I would be more inclined to never say never

[haveabeer]

Maybe having additional homes you could offer them
To those that are not so lucky and have lost everything and no
Second home to go to
People here are offering there holiday homes,caravan sites offering to house them,and locals
Offering there spare rooms

[Dancing Queen]

Excellent idea haveabeer, come on Em if you have 'spare' property ...help those in need

[The Tinker]

Don't be silly DQ - according to Em these people brought it all on themselves. I don't think 'charity' is a word in her vocabulary

[cornmillgirl]

I feel so so sorry for the people suffering with the flooding, I have not been flooded, but been so close to it in the summer of
June 2012, we have moved since, but I would not wish it on my worst enemy.

It beggars belief however that the village we moved from, which has had loads of incidents of flooding and which has a Flood Plan issued by
the Environment Agency, had a planning application passed for 76 properties (over 55's) on the floodplain next to the river only last year,
so after the floods which I nearly suffered from. The Environment Agency had no objections and were happy with the developers so called
"Flood Defences/Mitigation". Do they never learn?????