Retirees forced to abandon homes as Dorset feels full force of Britain's floods

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jan/06/dorset-severe-flood-warnings-britain

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The steps outside the Baptist church provided just about the best spot from which to survey the damage: during the course of the day residents evacuated from their riverside homes at Iford Bridge, Dorset, took turns to stand there, looking over the floodwater and wondering when it would finally recede.

"It's a crying shame," said 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 are going to do next."

On Monday it was Dorset's turn to feel the full force of the deluge that has battered the UK for more than a fortnight. The Environment Agency issued three severe flood warnings for the county – meaning there is a danger to life – while the Met Office published a weather warning for high winds, crashing waves, thunder and hail.

In Weymouth and Portland, residents, drivers and pedestrians were advised to stay away from beaches and causeways that were being overtopped by towering waves and bombarded by shingle. A section of promenade near Christchurch collapsed after being battered for days, while St Mary's, a historic church at Charminster, was inundated.

Firefighters had to help pump out homes, and rescued one elderly motorist who had been trapped in his car near Blandford Forum by floating him to safety using an inflatable sled.

But it was at Iford Bridge that the cost could be most clearly seen. The problem here was that high tides forced water from Christchurch harbour up the river Stour, which has been swollen by torrential rain since before Christmas. "It's as if the two blocks of water meet here and have nowhere to go," said Ayres. So the water poured into Iford Bridge Home Park, a riverside estate of modest homes – many of them owned by retirees who moved there for the peace and the picturesque views. All 90 residents were forced to move out.

Ayres reckons five of the homes will have to be condemned. "And the problem is that the insurance companies won't want to know after this," he says. "Two out of the five condemned places don't have insurance, so they've lost everything."

This is not a place that has flooded badly in recent years. The last time there was a severe inundation was back in the late 70s, when the waters lapped up close to the roofs. Measures have been taken 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 flood plain, after all."

Lawrence Williams, a councillor, said residents had been co-operative when they were told they had to leave. "We could have enforced the evacuation but we didn't need to: everyone left," he said. Williams was nursing a cup of coffee on the Baptist church steps as high tide came and went on Monday afternoon. Over the next few days the tides are easing off, but residents have been told they will have to stay away until at least Wednesday.

Some have sought refuge with friends and relatives; others have been put up by Bournemouth borough council in local hotels; four are camping in the Baptist church, sleeping on air beds, to keep an eye on the estate.

Another resident, who called herself Christmas Carol (because she was born in the festive period), said it was frightening when she was told she had to leave. "You don't know what to think, do you?" she said

She was desperate to return to her small bungalow to begin cleaning up. "Life's on hold at the moment. I'm already fed up with thinking about tide times and water levels. I don't really understand it all and I'm not sure anyone else really does. I want to get back home and get on with my life."

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