General Chat

No rivers near me.
The issue locally is our proximity to the coast and consequently concern over high tides. Contractors are constantly moving shingle from the eastern end of the coast and dumping it back at the western end. Apparently the sea recently undid all their work and threw much of the shingle onto the promenade, exposing a much sandier beach.

A lot of our coastal area is classed as Flood Plain.
A few years back, a family we know wanted to build a conservatory on the back of their house, but were refused permission because "You are in a flood plain".
Strangely, contractors were able to build a new estate on adjoining land :-0

Our house is at 900ft above sea level so although some wag was jet skiing in our lower village we were only affected by water ingress through the roof. That was annoying enough, I cannot imagine the distress of having your home flooding.

There isn't a single solution as in order to protect one village you put another at risk along the same water course. I cannot see any joined up thinking yet...

We can only hope that the weather improves and people can start rebuilding their lives.

After the flood

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9-QKzRF-x4

A few years ago our GF & basement were wrecked thanks to a burst water main
As a result we moved the living quarters to the 1st & 2nd floors and installed internal flood protection. When it happened again the damage was nothing like as bad.

I saw on "Grand Designs" a house fairly near to Monkey's Island on the Thames. The design had the build resting on a floating base which was ok for up to 4m of water rise. Cost sheds of money though.

People cannot reasonably expect the whole country to bail them out , create expensive "flood protections". They should have insurance. If the insurers won't play ball then pretty obviously the property owners need to consider their options such as a radical redesign of the ground floor or moving on.

There is nothing new in building on flood plains it has been going on for centuries. What is new is the frequency and ferocity of the flooding. There are many positive ways with water and land management to reduce the impact of heavy rain. Instead most of the money seems to be spent on fixes which assuage people's fear but just make things worse in the long run.

You take a risk. I would, to live in what for 9 years out of ten (worse odds in the future) is a nice spot by a lovely river.

Ironbridge which is fairly near me is in trouble, the flood barriers have held mainly, but the power of the river has broken under the road so those businesses etc on that road are very much at risk.

Where I used to live, 6.8 million spent but will come to nothing ( back to seamarsh) in the end.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/18/this-is-a-wake-up-call-the-villagers-who-could-be-britains-first-climate-refugees

edit that may sound as if I am underplaying or unsympathetic to the devastation that losing your possessions causes, I don't mean to do that. Just that as it has been obvious for years that there will be floods in a lot of places, you have to consider that it may or will happen to you.

Homes that have been flooded are just not selling so there is zero chance of those unfortunate owners 'moving on'.

No councils have sufficient funds available for flood defences at all of the vulnerable areas. Even when they (or the EA) have installed defences some are inadequate and others have been STOLEN.

National bulders have been criticised for their proposed site decisions but ultimately it's the planners that should bear the responsibility for increasing flood risks.

I feel desperately sad for young couples who purchased their first house, suffered a flood and now face the economical cost of replacing their possessions together with the stress knowing they own a worthless property.

Question I'd want answering is where's Johnson and Cobra?

Now if it was London................. :-S

Island...very true with mine as well :-D

I would guess most people can't just move to another floor, so not really a solution. I do have a basement and only store things there in waterproof boxes just in case.

You can't sell your house once it floods, well not for a good price. Insurance may not cover you in the future.

Thank goodness not affected by flooding as no rivers or canals in the close vicinity

Feel though for folks who have been affected because they have no control over the weather and the excessive rain

Must be horrendous seeing the water just rising and know you just can’t stop it and your home is at risk of damage

I drove in to Stratford-upon-Avon this morning, the fields to the north of the road to Tiddington were flooded as far as the eye could see. The caravan site on the bank of the river Avon, a bit further along, looked about two feet deep.