Flood Watch

I have spent most of today watching and waiting with local residents as the heavy rainfall overnight threatened to make the Letcombe Brook overflow. So far, fortunately, this has not happened. The Environment Agency were out and about monitoring the brook and they say that the amount of rainfall is still only about half of what it was last July. However, every time it rains now, everyone is on the alert and rightfully concerned.

First thing this morning we had to alert the Fire & Rescue Service to come out to North Drive and to Cane Lane. Homes at the end of North Drive had to be pumped out again to avoid flooding like last July. Fortunately, only the road was flooded in Cane Lane this time. With so many people still displaced from last year, it all seems so worrying.

I went to Kingfishers twice to talk to the residents there, some of whom had not long returned to their homes, and gave them some emergency telephone numbers and for those who were unable to attend last week's flood meeting, some flood protection products advice.

Anyone in an emergency situation should obviously ring 999. However, for help and advice ring the Vale of White Horse District Council 01235 520202 (out of hours emergency number is 01235 524886).