Heavy rainfall has led to flooding in Surrey, resulting in homes and businesses being inundated with water. The Thames river has risen to levels just inches away from those seen a decade ago, in 2014. The Environment Agency has issued warnings for the whole stretch of the river in Surrey, including areas such as Egham, Chertsey, Sunbury, Molesey, and Walton. Although the current floods are on a par with those seen in 2013, they are not expected to match the levels of the disastrous floods of 2014.
Residents, however, have expressed their frustration at the lack of action. One Staines-upon-Thames resident stated that the situation was a repeat of 2014. Meanwhile, motorists have been advised to access Addlestone and Chertsey through the M25 or Thorpe Lea Road, as all other directions are closed due to the danger posed by manhole covers that are close to coming out of their fixtures as water gushes through.
32 residents of Abbeyfields mobile home park in Thameside, Chertsey, were evacuated in the early hours of the morning when the nearby river inundated their homes. The Surrey Fire and Rescue Service and the police attended the scene, and the residents were relocated to alternative accommodation.
Activists have criticised the Environment Agency’s response to the floods, particularly its continued use of the Jubilee River flood relief scheme. The agency maintains that the flood relief scheme does not cause the downstream water levels to rise further. Carl Douglas, whose boat-building business located at Laleham Reach has been flooded four times in the last 20 years, blamed the Jubilee River for the constant floods that have inundated the area since the scheme’s implementation in 2002.
Runnymede councillor, Sam Jenkins, speaking on the lack of available sandbags, advised residents to prioritise protecting life over ensuring the safety of property. The council has made a limited number of sandbags available to residents, while the statutory consultation for the River Thames Scheme – which has been repeatedly discussed since the 1990s – is expected in early 2024
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More