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Flooded Dorset residents wait for waters to recede to assess damage Flooded Dorset residents wait for waters to recede to assess damage
(about 1 hour later)
The steps and ramp outside the baptist church were the prime flood-watch spots for residents of Iford Bridge Home Park in Dorset. The 90 residents who were evacuated from this riverside spot – picturesque at most times of the year – took it in turns to look over the floodwater and sigh at the damage caused to their homes.The steps and ramp outside the baptist church were the prime flood-watch spots for residents of Iford Bridge Home Park in Dorset. The 90 residents who were evacuated from this riverside spot – picturesque at most times of the year – took it in turns to look over the floodwater and sigh at the damage caused to their homes.
"It's a crying shame," said resident and park manager Ken Ayres, who has lived here for 10 years and never known it so bad. "People are sad, angry, frustrated. Some of them don't have insurance and they haven't got a clue what they're going to do next.""It's a crying shame," said resident and park manager Ken Ayres, who has lived here for 10 years and never known it so bad. "People are sad, angry, frustrated. Some of them don't have insurance and they haven't got a clue what they're going to do next."
The Environment Agency (EA) issued a severe flood warning for the estate after high tides forced water from Christchurch harbour up the swollen River Stour. The tidal water met the river water at Iford Bridge and all 65 homes on the park were flooded. So deep and fast-flowing was the water that the EA said there was a significant risk to life. Ayres said the last time the flooding here was so severe was back in the late seventies, when water almost covered the roofs of some homes. But this Christmas period has been a miserable one for residents here. The Environment Agency (EA) issued a severe flood warning for the estate after high tides forced water from Christchurch harbour up the swollen River Stour. The tidal water met the river water at Iford Bridge and all 65 homes on the park were flooded. So deep and fast-flowing was the water that the EA said there was a significant risk to life. Ayres said the last time the flooding here was so severe was back in the late 1970s, when water almost covered the roofs of some homes. But this Christmas period has been a miserable one for residents here.
They were first woken up in the early hours of Christmas morning and evacuated. They returned to their sodden homes two days later and began to clean up only to be told again to get out at the end of last week. Since then they have been watching and waiting.They were first woken up in the early hours of Christmas morning and evacuated. They returned to their sodden homes two days later and began to clean up only to be told again to get out at the end of last week. Since then they have been watching and waiting.
Some have been staying with friends and relatives, others have been put up by Bournemouth borough council in local hotels. Four have camped in the baptist church, sleeping on airbeds, to keep an eye on the estate.Some have been staying with friends and relatives, others have been put up by Bournemouth borough council in local hotels. Four have camped in the baptist church, sleeping on airbeds, to keep an eye on the estate.
As of lunchtime Monday, the EA's severe warning remained in force. Twenty two homes still had water in them. Five, according to Ayres, were likely to be condemned. "And the problem is that the insurance companies won't want to know after this. Two out of the five condemned places don't have insurance so they've lost everything." As of lunchtime on Monday, the EA's severe warning remained in force. Twenty-two homes still had water in them. Five, according to Ayres, were likely to be condemned. "And the problem is that the insurance companies won't want to know after this. Two out of the five condemned places don't have insurance so they've lost everything."
Measures have been taken here in recent years to try to alleviate the flood risk including building a bund – a flood wall – and planting willows along the banks. "But when it's as bad as this nothing helps," said Ayres. "We have to accept this is a floodplain, after all."Measures have been taken here in recent years to try to alleviate the flood risk including building a bund – a flood wall – and planting willows along the banks. "But when it's as bad as this nothing helps," said Ayres. "We have to accept this is a floodplain, after all."
Councillor Lawrence Williams said residents had been co-operative when they were told they had to leave for the second time. "We could have enforced the evacuation but we didn't need to – everyone left," he said.Councillor Lawrence Williams said residents had been co-operative when they were told they had to leave for the second time. "We could have enforced the evacuation but we didn't need to – everyone left," he said.
Williams was on the church steps with residents on Sunday as the waters receded and it looked as if they would be able to get back to their homes.Williams was on the church steps with residents on Sunday as the waters receded and it looked as if they would be able to get back to their homes.
But the high tide and the torrential rain upstream once again conspired to keep them out. "We've become experts in tide levels," he said. The good news is that the tides are decreasing, the bad news that more heavy rain is expected before the wet spell ends.But the high tide and the torrential rain upstream once again conspired to keep them out. "We've become experts in tide levels," he said. The good news is that the tides are decreasing, the bad news that more heavy rain is expected before the wet spell ends.
But Williams remained optimistic. "With a bit of luck people will be able to get back tomorrow [Tuesday]," he said. And begin the slow process of mopping up, drying out and putting their lives back together.But Williams remained optimistic. "With a bit of luck people will be able to get back tomorrow [Tuesday]," he said. And begin the slow process of mopping up, drying out and putting their lives back together.
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