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| Floods leave concerns on defences | Floods leave concerns on defences |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Flood-hit Cornish village Boscastle is clearing up amid concerns over the condition of defence schemes built following a deluge in 2004. | Flood-hit Cornish village Boscastle is clearing up amid concerns over the condition of defence schemes built following a deluge in 2004. |
| Some villagers claimed that culverts and storm drains were not sufficient to cope with the rain that raised water levels to 2ft on Thursday. | Some villagers claimed that culverts and storm drains were not sufficient to cope with the rain that raised water levels to 2ft on Thursday. |
| The Environment Agency launched a £4.5m flood defence scheme in response to the 2004 floods. | The Environment Agency launched a £4.5m flood defence scheme in response to the 2004 floods. |
| And it said those defences, still under construction, helped stop more damage. | And it said those defences, still under construction, helped stop more damage. |
| In 2004 an estimated 440 million gallons of flood water poured through the historic village, devastating many buildings and washing vehicles into the harbour and beyond. | In 2004 an estimated 440 million gallons of flood water poured through the historic village, devastating many buildings and washing vehicles into the harbour and beyond. |
| Your pictures of the flooding On Thursday surface water raced down Boscastle's steep streets to flood about 12 houses and businesses, some of them to a depth of about 3ft. | Your pictures of the flooding On Thursday surface water raced down Boscastle's steep streets to flood about 12 houses and businesses, some of them to a depth of about 3ft. |
| A number of local people questioned the ability of the village's drainage system to cope with the water. | A number of local people questioned the ability of the village's drainage system to cope with the water. |
| Shelley Barratt said pipes taking water from the Paradise Stream into Boscastle had not been made larger as part of the improvement works. | Shelley Barratt said pipes taking water from the Paradise Stream into Boscastle had not been made larger as part of the improvement works. |
| That meant that they were liable to become blocked, forcing water over the road. | That meant that they were liable to become blocked, forcing water over the road. |
| Shopkeeper Peter Dixon said: "The major problem has been surface water from the top of the village and the drains have just not coped with it." | Shopkeeper Peter Dixon said: "The major problem has been surface water from the top of the village and the drains have just not coped with it." |
| 'Pass safely' | 'Pass safely' |
| Businessman Chris Dawe from Boscastle Gallery - affected by about a foot of water - said there seemed to be insufficient drainage and surface water "had nowhere to go". | Businessman Chris Dawe from Boscastle Gallery - affected by about a foot of water - said there seemed to be insufficient drainage and surface water "had nowhere to go". |
| Gordon Trapmore, of the Environment Agency, said the problems could have been much worse without their efforts. | Gordon Trapmore, of the Environment Agency, said the problems could have been much worse without their efforts. |
| "We have spent about £1m on the River Jordan, we plan to spend a total of about £4.5m in Boscastle and that work is almost complete. | "We have spent about £1m on the River Jordan, we plan to spend a total of about £4.5m in Boscastle and that work is almost complete. |
| "That has certainly worked and allowed the flood to pass safely." | "That has certainly worked and allowed the flood to pass safely." |
| Former parish council chairman George Findlay, a member of the local regeneration committee, said drainage work to be carried out over the next six months would hopefully alleviate most of the problems. | Former parish council chairman George Findlay, a member of the local regeneration committee, said drainage work to be carried out over the next six months would hopefully alleviate most of the problems. |
| Mr Findlay called on local people to take action when heavy rain fell. | Mr Findlay called on local people to take action when heavy rain fell. |
| "The soil here is stony, and debris can get washed down to block drains. | "The soil here is stony, and debris can get washed down to block drains. |
| "People have got to look after themselves as well as expect others to do so. | "People have got to look after themselves as well as expect others to do so. |
| "It only takes a boot across a drain to keep it clear." | "It only takes a boot across a drain to keep it clear." |
| Matt McTaggart, Cornwall County Council's executive member for strategic planning and transport said: "I take on board everyone's concerns and will look seriously into the situation, making North Cornwall and Boscastle high on my priorities. | |
| "We are working with the Environment Agency and North Cornwall District Council to see if anything can be done." | "We are working with the Environment Agency and North Cornwall District Council to see if anything can be done." |