The actions of a tractor driver in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire have sparked condemnation after he was seen driving through deep floodwaters in the centre of the town. The incident followed a wall collapsing on Kyre Brook, which caused water to inundate the streets. The bow wave created by the tractor damaged several buildings, including smashing windows and causing further flooding. Repeated criticism from business owners led to West Mercia Police launching an investigation into the incident.
Owners of several businesses affected by the tractor’s passage shared footage of the incident which showed water bursting through their shop fronts. One affected business created a Facebook Group to share awareness of those affected by flooding, so that further action can be taken to prevent similar incidents. A statement from West Mercia Police confirmed it will be speaking to property owners and businesses that have been impacted during its investigation into the incident.
The incident has raised concerns over the regulation of heavy machinery during flood conditions, as operators in these conditions need to be aware of the extra bow waves created by their vehicles. Previously, it has been suggested that bow waves can significantly worsen the effects of flooding. The incident also highlights the importance of flood prevention and preparation measures, as flooding has become an increasing problem across the United Kingdom in recent years.
Flooded businesses in Tenbury Wells are not alone in their plight as flooding from Storm Bert has affected thousands of people across the UK. The government has announced the provision of funding and assistance to those affected by flooding. However, more needs to be done to create flood prevention measures and improve management during the flooding to protect communities in the future
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