This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-england-somerset-15599886
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Flooding in Bridgwater sparks river wall collapse fear | Flooding in Bridgwater sparks river wall collapse fear |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Part of Bridgwater town centre in Somerset has been closed off amid fears a riverside wall could collapse after heavy rain. | |
| Emergency services were called to East Quay, close to the River Parrett, after cracks appeared in the wall. A 50m cordon has been set up. | |
| The Environment Agency says it will inspect the wall on Saturday morning. | |
| At least eight homes in the West Quay area have been evacuated due to flooding in the area. | |
| Wessex Water says it is laying a temporary pipe overground to divert sewage from a major sewer that runs under the pavement, following the wall collapse. It says services to their customers will not be affected by the work. | |
| Local resident Lucy Bidwell said she had been walking to a pub to meet her boyfriend when she noticed a lot of people on the town bridge. | |
| 'Two-feet deep' | 'Two-feet deep' |
| "The river wall is close to collapsing and they've evacuated the town bridge now and there are police and firemen there," she said. | "The river wall is close to collapsing and they've evacuated the town bridge now and there are police and firemen there," she said. |
| "The river level doesn't look like it's reached its peak but it's been really heavy rain all day and it's an old road. | "The river level doesn't look like it's reached its peak but it's been really heavy rain all day and it's an old road. |
| "It looks like it could take a house out with it if it does go." | |
| A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said a 50m stretch of the river wall in Bridgwater was at risk of collapse. | A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said a 50m stretch of the river wall in Bridgwater was at risk of collapse. |
| Fore Street, West quay, East quay and bridges in the area that run over the river have been closed. | Fore Street, West quay, East quay and bridges in the area that run over the river have been closed. |
| Queuing traffic has been reported in both directions between the Watsons Lane junction and the Eastover junction. | Queuing traffic has been reported in both directions between the Watsons Lane junction and the Eastover junction. |
| The spokesman said crews had also tackled flooding at six homes at Cuckoo Hill in Bruton where an elderly woman was rescued. | The spokesman said crews had also tackled flooding at six homes at Cuckoo Hill in Bruton where an elderly woman was rescued. |
| "When crews arrived they found water two-foot deep in places," he said. | "When crews arrived they found water two-foot deep in places," he said. |