Gloucestershire floods leave swathes of land under water
RISING floodwaters caused chaos in communities across Gloucestershire yesterday as the heavy rainfall took its toll.
Parts of Tewkesbury were left underwater as water spilled over the banks of the River Severn – giving residents a nasty reminder of the 2007 floods.
More than 20 county roads were left partly or fully submerged following downpours throughout the weekend.
It came after 32mm fell in four hours on a sodden Saturday night – followed by further rain yesterday. The Environment Agency has placed large parts of the county on flood alert.
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Kelly Baikie, landlady of the Hawbridge Inn, in Tirley near Tewkesbury, said staff were preparing themselves for the worst as water from the River Severn rose by the hour.
She said: "The water level has been creeping up an inch or two every hour since Saturday night which is pretty quick.
"Our garden is covered apart from a small patch of green. It came up across the road outside as well.
"We are bracing ourselves for more as there is rain forecast overnight and over Monday."
Several lanes of the M5 had to be closed and other roads left impassable included the A435 at Bishop's Cleeve and the B4213 at Tirley.
Members of the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service were working around the clock to pump water away from affected homes. They were called out to Shuthonger, near Tewkesbury, and received several calls from the Cirencester area. Parts of the Forest of Dean were also submerged, with Lydbrook particularly badly affected.
The Severn Area Rescue Association was also in action, with crew members deployed to affected areas across the region, including Sharpness and as far afield as Exeter.
A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: "We are warning residents to stay vigilant as we see the effect of Saturday night's heavy rain and prepare for further rainfall.
"We are working with our partners to respond to the developing situation. Environment Agency teams have been mobilised across the region to check on flood defences, clear any river blockages and monitor river levels."
Gloucestershire Highways chiefs urged motorists not to attempt to drive through floodwater lying on roads.
Echo weather expert Ian Thomas said so far in November 168mm of rain had fallen – the wettest month for two years. And he warned there was more to come.
"More rain is expected today, Tuesday and Wednesday," he said. "There could be some icy nights towards the end of the week too as the weather gets colder."
Comments
by tishwash
Wednesday, November 28 2012, 5:15PM
“and p.s. I was commenting on her face, not the tragic situation.”
by tishwash
Wednesday, November 28 2012, 5:15PM
“source, the, fact, end of.”
by doccocomposer
Tuesday, November 27 2012, 9:20PM
“I apologise for breaking the most important rule of the internet, I should not feed the trolls!
Sad that in this time of hardship some people have nothing better to do than to post anonymous snide comments instead of offering support to those going through hell. Shame on you.”
by tishwash
Tuesday, November 27 2012, 7:49PM
“p.s. can you source that fact please ? also that's 1 planning officer if it's true, 1 isn't many.”
by tishwash
Tuesday, November 27 2012, 7:48PM
“I guarantee she put that face on for the paper, you can't tell me she walks around like that all the time before the floods potentially hit her home ?”
by doccocomposer
Tuesday, November 27 2012, 6:20PM
“A Tewkesbury Planning Officer was sacked some years ago for taking bribes so it does go on, fact. I'd like to see your face hours before your home and business gets destroyed. To me, that just looks like Kelly, extremely concerned. Sorry you feel that its somehow fake.”
by tishwash
Tuesday, November 27 2012, 6:05PM
“Taking bribes ? can you proove that or is it just a wild accusation ?
Yes they're building in poor locations and building lots more, that's just the way the UK is going, there's demand for building.
Either way my point stands, fake a frown for the paper..”
by doccocomposer
Tuesday, November 27 2012, 10:56AM
“You're so wrong tishwash, the increase in flooding is a direct result of environmental damage done by corrupt governments and corrupt planning committees doing things like, oh I don't know, building supermarkets and housing estates on long established flood planes, taking bribes from big business and ignoring independent flood surveys.... Obviously its 'natural' to use vast amounts of concrete to divert flood water from patterns that have been established for generations. This all takes its toll. Its only in recent years that money and greed seem to take precedence over common sense and I'm afraid, in the end we'll all have to pay the price.”
by tishwash
Monday, November 26 2012, 6:09PM
“someone stop slapping people with wet fish, I doubt she really looks like that as she's walking around! Why pull a face, it's a flood, natural, not like someone is doing it on purpose, yes it's saddening but really ? that face? really?”