Flooding woes and the P.O

[The Black Adder]

Hi all.

So since the floods around where we live we still have no post. The post office has posted a very vague message on their website with no expected date for post.

If you have seen the footage on the news, the yard of post office vans is our main post office and not being from around here, others who have been here all their lives have never seen it flood like this.

Flood waters have receded but there are still roads which are closed.

My heart goes out to everyone who has been flooded out.... lets face it, the government couldn't give a crap.

I'm angry, very disappointed in the response from the government.

Has anyone else been affected?

Thanks
Jo

[Spectral Morn]

Hi all.

So since the floods around where we live we still have no post. The post office has posted a very vague message on their website with no expected date for post.

If you have seen the footage on the news, the yard of post office vans is our main post office and not being from around here, others who have been here all their lives have never seen it flood like this.

Flood waters have receded but there are still roads which are closed.

My heart goes out to everyone who has been flooded out.... lets face it, the government couldn't give a crap.

I'm angry, very disappointed in the response from the government.

Has anyone else been affected?

Thanks
Jo

Glad its only post that you have had issues with and not more direct effects. Flooding is awful.

[The Black Adder]

Glad its only post that you have had issues with and not more direct effects. Flooding is awful.

Yep... we are lucky. But for people who have been flooded it was a total shock as they had never flooded before.

[scotty38]

Yep, I am out in the sticks in Lincolnshire and have only fields as neighbours, nearest dwelling is about 1/2 a mile away. The field on one side has flooded and subsequently filled our soak away for the septic tank, which then fills the septic tank itself. Essentially we cannot get rid of any foul waste right now. We had the tank emptied yesterday but it refilled immediately, at least now we are only full of "clean" water.

I have been pumping it out since Saturday and it's still not at a level where we can use the service.

I will spare you the details but a portaloo is on the cards to go with stand up washing etc etc. Not as bad as some folk have it but in my own personal little world it's quite a trauma.....

[Gaz]

What never ceases to amaze me are the people you see on the news who appear to have made no effort whatsoever to move any belongings upstairs. Dvd players, TVs, vacuum cleaners, dining chairs etc.

Obviously there are circumstances where people are flooded without warning but when you can see it rising over a period of hours surely you'd try to save what you could?

If I was an insurance assessor they wouldn't get paid out on the basis they'd made no effort to minimise the loss

[Macca]

What never ceases to amaze me are the people you see on the news who appear to have made no effort whatsoever to move any belongings upstairs. Dvd players, TVs, vacuum cleaners, dining chairs etc.

Obviously there are circumstances where people are flooded without warning but when you can see it rising over a period of hours surely you'd try to save what you could?

If I was an insurance assessor they wouldn't get paid out on the basis they'd made no effort to minimise the loss

And they're usually the ones saying 'This is the third time we've been flooded.'

[Gaz]

I remember the floods in Somerset a few years ago, villages were cut off for days and people were outraged that the authorities weren't making the water evaporate or otherwise disperse quickly enough. Eventually the army were sent in, presumably to shoot the floodwater after the police failed miserably to arrest it

[Macca]

The PM and the rest of the cabinet should have shown up and personally bailed out all the houses whilst the locals stood around and watched, or went down the pub.

Isn't the whole point of having a government so that you don't have to do anything for yourself? Especially not things like planning ahead when you live in a flood zone and it starts raining heavily.

Now if we had a labour gov then you'd get a reward for letting your house get flooded. The more times it flood the more money you'd get. And possibly an OBE or a knighthood too.

And there would be patrols sent out - anyone seen attempting to take independent action such as filling sandbags or reinforcing flood defenses would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and then deported. Bloody self-starters! We don't need them or want them.

[Hibster_2000]

The flooding looks pretty awful, and Bono may be the latest version of King Canute, but I do not think that anybody has the power or resources to stop the flooding. I think that the reaction should have been much better organised, with support for the people affected.

[hifi_dave]

If the rivers were routinely dredged and cleaned, as they once were, a lot of the flooding wouldn't happen.

Not much chance of flooding round here because there are no rivers but roads are now regularly flooded because the farmers no longer clear the ditches.

[Hibster_2000]

It is not ecologically friendly to dredge rivers, apparently.

[Light Dependant Resistor]

If the rivers were routinely dredged and cleaned, as they once were, a lot of the flooding wouldn't happen.

Not much chance of flooding round here because there are no rivers but roads are now regularly flooded because the farmers no longer clear the ditches.

A certain weed species called Salix Fragelis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salix_fragilis is a major contributor to ongoing flooding, as is clearing of natural waterways
by those inexperienced ,or with other motivation, inconsiderate or knowing of the wider implications.

Most cities will have a stormwater management plan, and it contains many well researched methods to maintain effective balance between commercial, residential
recreational, natural and habitat use of waterways .

A key component of these plans exampled here https://epa.tas.gov.au/Documents/State_Stormwater_Strategy_December_2010.pdf
is weighing progressively what becomes political interests against the environmental needs at any given time. The date of the document above some 9 years ago gives good
indication that all is not well in this particular town. Further evidence, is this town now, being as well, choked by cars, and erosion of public places.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-22/hobart-traffic-roads-getting-worse/11115722

But back to Salix Fragelis , its habit is to be regularly breaking limbs causing choking of waterways and creating a distinctive red coloured mat in the river bed, that just
raises the propensity for flooding. This UK government group exemplifies the wider political problem, https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/research/forest-hydrology/riparian-woodland-and-water-protection/
whilst on one hand suggesting they use a lot of water, but on the other, NOT then classifying them as a weed, and advocating their substitution by natural species.
Also links to critical documents on this site are no longer available. We can assume government bodies are not good at all, at understanding riparian zones and generally cannot be trusted.

However all is not lost as joining a community riparian group, you get to know very quickly as to what is a weed and what is not, With Salix Fragelis it requires cutting and poisoning
- but not removal as removal straight away without a similar way of holding the river bank together, also risks adding to flooding.

Rather what is then done is monitoring to ensure regrowth does not occur often by unpaid volunteers, and longer term a better choice of plant is introduced by riparian groups such as native species
for channel stability. I hope this has been of interest.

[mikmas]

Hi all.

So since the floods around where we live we still have no post. The post office has posted a very vague message on their website with no expected date for post.

If you have seen the footage on the news, the yard of post office vans is our main post office and not being from around here, others who have been here all their lives have never seen it flood like this.

Flood waters have receded but there are still roads which are closed.

My heart goes out to everyone who has been flooded out.... lets face it, the government couldn't give a crap.

I'm angry, very disappointed in the response from the government.

Has anyone else been affected?

Thanks
Jo

We have spent a good deal of glorious leisure time around Derbyshire over the last few years, mainly walking the dales in the area between Tideswell and Ilam, so viewing the drone footage of the devastation in the Derwent valley and around Matlock was both shocking and heart-wrenching. Particularly as a year or two back we were looking at houses in Darley Dale with a view to relocating....

Our local river (the Witham in Lincolnshire) surged from practically nothing to well above flood level in the course of a few hours and was more than slightly alarming. A week on and it's still very high so who knows how tomorrow's heavy rain will work out :eek:

[mikmas]

What never ceases to amaze me are the people you see on the news who appear to have made no effort whatsoever to move any belongings upstairs. Dvd players, TVs, vacuum cleaners, dining chairs etc.

Obviously there are circumstances where people are flooded without warning but when you can see it rising over a period of hours surely you'd try to save what you could?

If I was an insurance assessor they wouldn't get paid out on the basis they'd made no effort to minimise the loss

:lol: You are seriously joking !!

In a flood insurance claim that sort of stuff is absolute peanuts ... drying out costs ... complete kitchen refurb ... new flooring (carpets and sometimes boards) ... replastering of ground floor ... hotel costs ... and much, much more.

[struth]

Yup, the drying out of building and making good is a lot of time and money.
Forunately flooding is unlikely where I am. Must be horrible tho

[The Black Adder]

:lol: You are seriously joking !!

In a flood insurance claim that sort of stuff is absolute peanuts ... drying out costs ... complete kitchen refurb ... new flooring (carpets and sometimes boards) ... replastering of ground floor ... hotel costs ... and much, much more.

+1

The shock of it happening where it's never happened before or within living memory would be very frightening. First thing to do is to get upstairs and keep safe and inform the authorities and organise help.

Went through the town center yesterday. Seeing peoples sodden furniture and appliances outside each house and seeing people brushing mud out of their homes is a very upsetting sight.

Right now the rain is coming down hard again... hopefully it won't stick around for long.

[walpurgis]

I used to say never live near water or on low land (well I still do), but our place in Kent is 600 feet from the sea. Fortunately, it's 80 feet above sea level and there's no coastal erosion. So hopefully, is OK for the foreseeable future.

Folk clamour for sandbags when there's a flooding threat, but I think there's a misunderstanding there. Sandbags a pretty useless at stopping rising water, a couple across a front door will achieve little. They are best employed for diverting the flow of moving water. And yes, I've been involved in dealing with flooding whilst working for local authorities.

[Marco]

Yup, the drying out of building and making good is a lot of time and money.
Forunately flooding is unlikely where I am. Must be horrible tho

+1. We've mostly always lived at the top of a hill, including now, but my heart goes out to anyone who's been a victim of severe flooding, and worse, if they've lost their homes because of it, which is just unthinkable. Rain water damage is a horrible thing, as once it gets in, it just wrecks everything, and the place is never the same.

The closest we've experienced to that, but which really isn't the same, were burst pipes up in Scotland during one of the coldest winters ever of 1995-6, where the temperature dropped to -20C. We were actually down in Wrexham visiting Del's mum at the time, and our neighbour, who was looking after our house, called us and said you'd better get back home quick!

The damage was horrendous, with ceilings caved in (as the boiler had burst), and everything was soaked, but at least it was clean, not rain water... Still we were out of our house for months, and put up in a hotel, with all meals paid, etc, while the house was fixed inside and dried out. The insurance company were very good about it though, and that's probably the last time we've made a major claim on our house insurance.

I've always said though, that if we were ever properly flooded out, such as you see now with these poor people on TV, it would happen ONCE, and be fixed, after which we'll sell up and move (even if we had to take a huge loss on the sale of the property), as I'd never want to go through the experience again, and dread every weather forecast for heavy rain, and just be almost completely helpless!!:nono:

Marco.

[The Black Adder]

Just got this on an email from our library.

Talk about an insult. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191114/09abc5f0bc7916a77d217dffe3c13d33.jpg

Sent from my BBC Microcomputer 32K

[walpurgis]

It says "could be eligible". They'll probably make it difficult to get even that measly amount.

[Marco]

Complete joke, although it's certainly not funny! And meanwhile the decrepit chinless wonders in the House of Lords, on huge salaries for doing hee-haw, along with Boris Karloff, are sipping vintage port with their stilton...

Marco.

[Macca]

Really weird. Do you think the government are siting on an endless supply of money and the only reason they won't pay up is because they are nasty people?

Those who have been flooded can claim on their insurance so why should taxpayers have to fork out?

Why do people forget where the government get all their money from?

[Sherwood]

When I returned to the UK and needed to buy a house, I took the issue of flooding seriously. I had previously lived in Dhaka in Bangladesh where floods were frequent and devastating. So much of the UK's property is built on land prone to historical flooding, and in the future, with climate change, much more is vulnerable. Although I am not far from the River Meden, my house is on land that is elevated from the river level. Even then, with heavy rains, the poor maintenance of drains by the local council means that the road outside my house often turns into a fast flowing stream as water cannot escape down the drain holes due to a build up of grass and weeds. Flood risks are largely predictable and can be exacerbated by poor management on the part of local and central government.

[Joe]

Complete joke, although it's certainly not funny! And meanwhile the decrepit chinless wonders in the House of Lords, on huge salaries for doing hee-haw, along with Boris Karloff, are sipping vintage port with their stilton...

Marco.

They are not on 'huge salaries': indeed few are on any salary:

https://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/about-lords/lords-allowances/

'Most members of the Lords do not receive a salary for their parliamentary duties but are eligible to receive allowances and, within certain limits, the travel expenses they incur in fulfilling their parliamentary duties.

Members of the Lords who are not paid a salary may claim a flat rate attendance allowance of £153 or £305 (new rate from the 1st April 2018), or £150 or £300 (old rate up to 31st March 2018), or may choose to make no claim for each sitting day they attend the House.

Some members of the Lords receive a salary because of the offices they hold.

The Lord Speaker, the Chairman of Committees, and the Principal Deputy Chairman - paid from the House of Lords budget.
Government ministers - paid by the relevant government departments.'

[Gaz]

:lol: You are seriously joking !!

In a flood insurance claim that sort of stuff is absolute peanuts ... drying out costs ... complete kitchen refurb ... new flooring (carpets and sometimes boards) ... replastering of ground floor ... hotel costs ... and much, much more.

Peanuts?

TV, dvd player, vacuum cleaner, and a set of dining chairs (examples of easily movable items) conservative estimate of £2000, let's say 1000 houses are flooded, £2 million isn't peanuts.

I am only referring to able bodied people who had advanced warning of flooding

[The Black Adder]

Peanuts?

TV, dvd player, vacuum cleaner, and a set of dining chairs (examples of easily movable items) conservative estimate of £2000, let's say 1000 houses are flooded, £2 million isn't peanuts.

I am only referring to able bodied people who had advanced warning of floodingMany in this case had no warning.

In any case... I'd want to get my affairs in order firstly and foremost before I would even think about rescuing a dvd player.

Not because I'd be lazy but even if you had warning you would want to know what to do and you would be worried sick, especially if you have kids or know of someone elderly or disabled.



Sent from my BBC Microcomputer 32K

[Lawrence001]

It says "could be eligible". They'll probably make it difficult to get even that measly amount.To be fair if they gave it to anyone who claimed to be affected then there'd be an absolute uproar about throwing money away, look at Grenfell for example to see how low some people will go. So there have to be eligibility checks.

Sent from my POT-LX1 using Tapatalk

[willbewill]

+1. We've mostly always lived at the top of a hill, including now, but my heart goes out to anyone who's been a victim of severe flooding, and worse, if they've lost their homes because of it, which is just unthinkable. Rain water damage is a horrible thing, as once it gets in, it just wrecks everything, and the place is never the same.

The closest we've experienced to that, but which really isn't the same, were burst pipes up in Scotland during one of the coldest winters ever of 1995-6, where the temperature dropped to -20C. We were actually down in Wrexham visiting Del's mum at the time, and our neighbour, who was looking after our house, called us and said you'd better get back home quick!

The damage was horrendous, with ceilings caved in (as the boiler had burst), and everything was soaked, but at least it was clean, not rain water... Still we were out of our house for months, and put up in a hotel, with all meals paid, etc, while the house was fixed inside and dried out. The insurance company were very good a

I've always said though, that if we were ever properly flooded out, such as you see now with these poor people on TV, it would happen ONCE, and be fixed, after which we'll sell up and move (even if we had to take a huge loss on the sale of the property), as I'd never want to go through the experience again, and dread every weather forecast for heavy rain, and just be almost completely helpless!!:nono:

Marco.

Both have happened to us, 40 years ago, our first house in Cardiff, the Taff broke its banks and we had five foot of water. Did repairs and sold it, vowed to never live where that could happen again.

Then 12 years ago living a couple of hundred foot above sea level, whilst we were in Florida for Christmas and New year, pipes burst in loft and pretty much totalled everything (bizarrely except my records and my wife's handbags, the only things we were bothered about). The worst thing was it destroyed our youngest daughter's bedroom. We didn't move back in until Easter!

So now we live where unlikely to get flooded and with no pipes in roof space.

[struth]

Ive been lucky to have always lived up a hill. I dont now, but the ground elevation is still fairly high above sea level and no rivers around me.
Once had a washingmachine leak a lot of water in kitchen as it blocked. managed to keep it to kitchen tho and the wooden floor dried out fairly well as i got it up quite quick.

[Joe]

Where my parents lived was actually below sea level, on reclaimed land. We were never actually flooded, but the house was very damp. Since moving out, I've always lived on a hill, though more by accident than design.

[Joe]

Many in this case had no warning.

In any case... I'd want to get my affairs in order firstly and foremost before I would even think about rescuing a dvd player.

Especially as DVD players only cost about £50 to replace!

[struth]

Where my parents lived was actually below sea level, on reclaimed land. We were never actually flooded, but the house was very damp. Since moving out, I've always lived on a hill, though more by accident than design.

My parents house was up atop a big hill., as was mine(same street) theirs at one time was the highest house in town, bar farms outwith. you could see far and wide from atop. no areil needed either. TBH im now probably just about as high; not quite, but it all looks flat

[bumpy]

Flooding is awful, but many of the victims seem to have no insurance, Why?

[Macca]

Many in this case had no warning.

K

Everyone who lives in a flood zone has had an information pack, I know because the street down from me is a flood zone and I know people who live there. This isn't like a tidal wave or something, its a result of heavy rain over a week or more. If you live in a flood zone your supposed to monitor this and check the Met office web site for flood warnings and if it looks likely take appropriate action as advised in the pack.

Even though I don't live in a flood zone I am quite close so I do sometimes go down to the river and check the levels if it has been raining heavily for days. It's about taking responsibility for your own life instead of doing nothing, hoping 'the government' will fix it all and then complaining that there's no big cash payout when it all goes wrong.

Maybe that would not be sufficient to prevent being flooded out in some cases but to say they had no warning it would happen is not correct.

[The Black Adder]

Everyone who lives in a flood zone has had an information pack, I know because the street down from me is a flood zone and I know people who live there. This isn't like a tidal wave or something, its a result of heavy rain over a week or more. If you live in a flood zone your supposed to monitor this and check the Met office web site for flood warnings and if it looks likely take appropriate action as advised in the pack.

Even though I don't live in a flood zone I am quite close so I do sometimes go down to the river and check the levels if it has been raining heavily for days. It's about taking responsibility for your own life instead of doing nothing, hoping 'the government' will fix it all and then complaining that there's no big cash payout when it all goes wrong.

Maybe that would not be sufficient to prevent being flooded out in some cases but to say they had no warning it would happen is not correct.Your wrong.

But I'm leaving it there.



Sent from my BBC Microcomputer 32K

[Marco]

Really weird. Do you think the government are siting on an endless supply of money and the only reason they won't pay up is because they are nasty people?

Those who have been flooded can claim on their insurance so why should taxpayers have to fork out?

Why do people forget where the government get all their money from?

Ha - there's that 'compassionate' side coming out in you again, Martin, which I must admit you hide very well!:D

Yes, claim on your insurance (that is *if* they decide to pay out in full, depending on various circumstances), and then watch your subsequent premiums go through the roof!:doh: Yeah, that's cool, especially when it's a natural disaster and no-one's fault.

Therefore *that* is what governments are there for, to help people out properly in such emergencies, and as a tax payer, I for one don't begrudge one single penny of any money I indirectly pay towards such things, in fact in the past I've donated money on top to charities for flood victims.

Maybe if our governments spent less on developing nuclear bombs, they'd have more cash spare to spend on helping flood victims?;)

Marco [anti-war, PRO-PEOPLE].

[struth]

Gotta have the bombs mate.. We need them [emoji23]

[Macca]

It's not the money it's the idea that they are somehow entitled to the money that irritates me.

[Marco]

Everyone who lives in a flood zone has had an information pack, I know because the street down from me is a flood zone and I know people who live there. This isn't like a tidal wave or something, its a result of heavy rain over a week or more. If you live in a flood zone your supposed to monitor this and check the Met office web site for flood warnings and if it looks likely take appropriate action as advised in the pack.


Yes, in theory that sounds all very sensible and entirely logical, but what are you supposed to do when the sheer volume of water falling completely overwhelms the defences you've put up? In some cases recently, MONTHS of rainfall have fallen in ONE single day! Just what do you do to effectively protect yourself from that, especially when you're panicking and extremely worried about the potential consequences...?

And following the instructions in the information pack is all well and good, if you're able-bodied and alert enough, for example, to pile sandbags up on top of your front door, etc, and aren't elderly or disabled. Honestly mate, sometimes you don't think things through!:doh:

Marco.

[Marco]

It's not the money it's the idea that they are somehow entitled to the money that irritates me.

Not as much as I'm irritated by penny-pinching governments offering pittances to people who are DESPERATE and in genuine NEED of help, whilst they're only too keen on giving fat cats huge tax incentives, so have no qualms about spending money there, instead of giving it to ordinary folk to help after losing their homes in a flood!

Marco.

[Marco]

Gotta have the bombs mate.. We need them [emoji23]

Were you being serious or what, daftee? Your emoj didn't work...

Marco.

[Macca]

Yes, in theory that sounds all very sensible and entirely logical, but what are you supposed to do when the sheer volume of water falling completely overwhelms the defences you've put up? In some cases recently,MONTHS of rainfall have fallen in ONE single day! Just what do you do to effectively protect yourself from that, especially when you're panicking and extremely worried about the potential consequences...?

And following the instructions in the information pack is all well and good, if you're able-bodied and alert enough, for example, to pile sandbags up on top of your front door, etc, and aren't elderly or disabled. Honestly mate, sometimes you don't think things through!:doh:

Marco.

You missed out this from your quote 'Maybe that would not be sufficient to prevent being flooded out in some cases but to say they had no warning it would happen is not correct.'

As far as the pensioners and disabled are concerned people round here help each other out. Rather than expecting someone from 'the government' to do it and then getting all self-righteous when they don't. It's what we all did before there were governments.

[struth]

Were you being serious or what, daftee? Your emoj didn't work...

Marco.Was joking yes.. No point in worrying about the ruskies and the Chinese. They can eat us without bombs.
Of course, you know we only have them to defend against the French. Lol

[Marco]

The other thing is, successive governments have been cutting back more and more and spending less on dredging rivers, clearing drains and maintaining the infrastructure/defences that helps prevent floods, consequently the former are full of all sorts of crap, which at one time was emptied out, and so left somewhere for excessive rainfall to go!

Now, however, because our drains and rivers are so full of shite, there is nowhere for all that water/rainfall to go, which is why drains overflow and rivers burst their banks now so quickly!!:doh:

Again, yet another example of governments getting their priorities all wrong! And it's the same story now, year after year, with nothing ever done to fundamentally address the problem, and which is only going to get worse:rolleyes:

Marco.

[mikmas]

This isn't like a tidal wave or something, its a result of heavy rain over a week or more.


Maybe the case in your neck of the woods but in terms of what happened last week across our part of the world that is simply not true - and I have the graph to prove it :ner:

The amount of rain that fell in less than 24 hours across Derbyshire, South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire was unprecedented - as was the fury of the deluge. It was actually more akin to a 'tidal wave'
As I mentioned earlier, our local river (the Witham) went from its usual level of about 50cm to well over 2 meters in no time flat (and I know because i was monitoring it quite closely)

It wasn't just the river that couldn't cope, drains along the main road that runs past our house were inundated and rapidly over-ran, turning the road into a river in its own right and flooding a small park lower down by a junction.

Luckily the city centre just escaped serious flooding. Unfortunately towns and cities like Rotherham, Doncaster and Matlock were less fortunate ... but to say the residents had plenty of warning to get their precious DVD players up stairs etc. is just blatant poppycock and flagrant denial of the facts.

And yes - it is the Government's duty and responsibility to take appropriate action when faced with such frequent and increasingly abnormal weather events such as this one.
THAT'S WHAT WE PAY TAXES FOR !!!

[struth]

Yes they have. It's bad for frogs etc.
One of the big issues re many flood issues is so many people building in flood overspill areas that were never used for good reason.
And building up river defences at these areas just pushes the problem further along river, that probably never used to flood

[Marco]

You missed out this from your quote 'Maybe that would not be sufficient to prevent being flooded out in some cases but to say they had no warning it would happen is not correct.'

As far as the pensioners and disabled are concerned people round here help each other out. Rather than expecting someone from 'the government' to do it and then getting all self-righteous when they don't. It's what we all did before there were governments.

As I said, there's hee-haw you can do, short of becoming Moses, when our drains and rivers are in the state that they're in, you've got MONTHS-worth of rain falling in ONE DAY, and you live in a flood zone!

And helping folk out is fine *if* you have people around you willing and able to do that, many don't and so have had to fend for themselves, or drown and die (as sadly some have), if they can't. Don't get me wrong, I understand where you're coming from, but in times like this the government has to step up and give proper support to our society's most vulnerable.

Marco.

[Marco]

Maybe the case in your neck of the woods but in terms of what happened last week across our part of the world that is simply not true - and I have the graph to prove it :ner:

The amount of rain that fell in less than 24 hours across Derbyshire, South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire was unprecedented - as was the fury of the deluge. It was actually more akin to a 'tidal wave'
As I mentioned earlier, our local river (the Witham) went from its usual level of about 50cm to well over 2 meters in no time flat (and I know because i was monitoring it quite closely)

It wasn't just the river that couldn't cope, drains along the main road that runs past our house were inundated and rapidly over-ran, turning the road into a river in its own right and flooding a small park lower down by a junction.


Exactly!:)

Marco.

[Gaz]

Many in this case had no warning.

In any case... I'd want to get my affairs in order firstly and foremost before I would even think about rescuing a dvd player.

Not because I'd be lazy but even if you had warning you would want to know what to do and you would be worried sick, especially if you have kids or know of someone elderly or disabled.



Sent from my BBC Microcomputer 32K

I didn't think of what a mind boggling conundrum an approaching flood must be.

Ooh, my house is about to be flooded, what shall I do.....?

Try to minimise the impact it has on me by moving possessions upstairs?

Noooo, far too complicated

Seriously?

[Barry]

As I said, there's hee-haw you can do, short of becoming Moses, when our drains and rivers are in the state that they're in, you've got MONTHS-worth of rain falling in ONE DAY, and you live in a flood zone!

Marco.

When was the last time you saw a 'sludge gulper' clearing out the roadside drains? Another contributing factor is the rooting out of gardens to form a hard standing for cars.

[Pigmy Pony]

When was the last time you saw a 'sludge gulper' clearing out the roadside drains? Another contributing factor is the rooting out of gardens to form a hard standing for cars.

A big contributing factor imo. Every year a couple more gardens on our estate are being paved. Not big drinkers, tarmac and printed concrete :(

[Marco]

Indeed, and all because every fucker in every household thinks that they can't function without having their own car!:doh:

Marco.

[Sherwood]

When was the last time you saw a 'sludge gulper' clearing out the roadside drains? Another contributing factor is the rooting out of gardens to form a hard standing for cars.

The one that goes past my house misses the nearby drains because it diverts its path to avoid the bollards on a speed hump. That is understandable but nobody follows up with a manual clear up.

[Marco]

When was the last time you saw a 'sludge gulper' clearing out the roadside drains?

Yup, all because of continued cutbacks in local council expenditure. Don't talk to me either about the paucity of police, protecting us now either in the event of an emergency (or 'bobbies on the beat'), due to the same! But of course, as long as we have enough bombs and nuclear submarines, we'll be all right...:rolleyes:

Marco.

[Light Dependant Resistor]

Yup, all because of continued cutbacks in local council expenditure. Don't talk to me either about the paucity of police, protecting us now either in the event of an emergency (or 'bobbies on the beat'), due to the same! But of course, as long as we have enough bombs and nuclear submarines, we'll be all right...:rolleyes:

Marco.

Care for each other in times of crisis always comes down to real community involvement. A real democracy in coming months would see under performing council members
turfed out ,along with policies that are either ineffective or hinder proper assistance, then changed at the next election.

I can see nationally already though the framework there is wrong ,exampled with this https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency
The environment agency being accountable to the parliament and therefore NOT independent to advise away from politics of the day.
The present emphasis they appear to have is ensuring formalities are addressed and having very little actual application to environmental protection.
The actual discussion papers and outcomes I see, are NOT being disclosed. Can anyone see where any outcome of discussion is actually addressed or made public ?

For example WHAT did Toby Willison discuss at 10.50 as item 6 anyone care to write and ask ? https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/840690/EA_agenda_and_papers_09Oct2019_board_meeting.pdf


This article applying to Australia gives good strategy, for addressing today's unique set of circumstances.
" develop conservation plans, monitor invasive species, and set nationally binding air pollution standards and climate adaptation plans."
http://theconversation.com/why-australians-need-a-national-environment-protection-agency-to-safeguard-their-health-93861

but is sure to be ignored by the present government - just like this https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-14/former-fire-chief-calls-out-pm-over-refusal-of-meeting/11705330

It comes down to voting very carefully at elections for parties that consider the environment, rather than parties that exploit the environment for share holder strategy.

As for nuclear submarines and bombs totally agree Marco, they need their heads read. BUT democracy of the past enabled them to create Acts and funding for such
items... the power of the vote HAS to change such thinking.

[Light Dependant Resistor]

For example WHAT did Toby Willison discuss at 10.50 as item 6 anyone care to write and ask ? https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/840690/EA_agenda_and_papers_09Oct2019_board_meeting.pdf

I have emailed, and will advise if a reply is provided.

" Dear Madam / Sir
I refer to the paper provided by Toby Willison at the meeting on Oct 9th at 10.50am
is a copy of that paper available please ?

6. Sustainability Strategy – eMission 2030 6.1 Net Zero Carbon (for approval) 6.2 eMission 2030 ambitions and targets (for discussion) Toby Willison 10:50 60 mins

I look forward to your reply. "

[Hibster_2000]

Indeed, and all because every fucker in every household thinks that they can't function without having their own car!:doh:

Marco.

Surely, you and your Mrs both have a car?
We do.

[struth]

did i tell you ive got a car :D and in the car is another car :eek:

[Marco]

Surely, you and your Mrs both have a car?
We do.

Ah yes, but you obviously haven't read my proposals (when I become the new transport secretary - evil, short skirted, high-heeled bitch:eyebrows:) and introduce a new law allowing only a maximum of two cars per household!;)

It's the fuckers in larger households, with, say four kids over 18, all of whom WANT a car each, plus the parents themselves (and therefore a six-car household), I'm talking about. And there are plenty about!

In that instance, four of them need to learn to car-share or use public transport instead, as our (often narrow) UK streets are littered with too many bloody parked cars, causing major access problems and all sorts of chaos - not to mention the issue Piggurs stated about gardens now being turned into 'concrete jungles', simply to facilitate car parking, and contributing to the flooding problem!:rolleyes:

Marco [currently in a one-car household until the new year].

[Hibster_2000]

Yes, parking in Bristol is a nightmare, often turning streets in to one way roads due to cars being parked all over the place.
Lots of people commute in their cars, park up in residential areas and walk in to avoid parking fees. Flipping nightmare.

[Marco]

Indeed, and those selfish c*nts should be shot on sight - show ZERO tolerance!!:guns::guns:

Marco.

[Hibster_2000]

Especially when emergency services struggle to get up the road.

[Marco]

Exactly... If I were driving a fire engine, I'd just plough through them all, to get where I needed to go, and give them a 'nice surprise' when they returned!

That would teach them;)

Marco.

[Patrick Dixon]

Ah yes, but you obviously haven't read my proposals (when I become the new transport secretary - evil, short skirted, high-heeled bitch:eyebrows:) and introduce a new law allowing only a maximum of two cars per household!;)
Hmm, we have 4 cars, one JCB, one dumper, one tractor and a quad bike between the two of us. They are all parked 1/2 mile away from the nearest public road and the nearest public transport is 2 miles away. We only drive a maximum of two vehicles at a time on the public roads. I'm assuming we'll be exempt :-)

[Marco]

Yes! The new law will only apply if you don't have enough space on your own land, in which to park them, and therefore encroach upon public areas, thus inconveniencing others and in some cases causing a serious hazard.

You can have as many vehicles you like, as long as you have somewhere suitable to store them!:)

Marco.

[Hibster_2000]

Exactly... If I were driving a fire engine, I'd just plough through them all, to get where I needed to go, and give them a 'nice surprise' when they returned!

That would teach them;)

Marco.

That will wreck the fire engine.
They need a purpose built bulldozer to clear the road....

[Marco]

Perhaps, but in the heat of the moment, where time is at a premium, needs must!

In most instances, I suspect some broken wing mirrors and a few dents and scrapes (mostly on the offending cars) would be the extent of the damage - oh of course, excluding the 'damage' it would inflict, both financially and psychologically, on the offenders concerned!;)

It would come under the clause of 'Too bad, your car shouldn't have been there in the first place, haha'.

Marco.

[Gaz]

When you're transporter secretary who will be chancellor to the exchequer?

I pity the poor sod having to recoup the lost revenue from car tax, fuel tax, insurance premium tax etc on all those cars you're banning. Income tax rise here we come.

[Marco]

Well, as they say, no pain, no gain!:D

Besides, I'd tax all the 'fat cats' [particularly our resident millionaires and billionaires] sufficiently, in order to raise the necessary revenue, along with trimming a few tens of millions from the 'spending pots' of the Royals, especially the 'nobodies': Lord such and such, chinless inbred wonder, whom no-one's ever heard of, but has amassed considerable wealth from doing the sum total of hee-haw!;)

Quite simply, in these times of austerity, the Royal family is an obscene symbol of pompous elitism, and a grossly outdated institution that is long since past its sell-by date.

Marco.

[hifi_dave]

When was the last time you saw a 'sludge gulper' clearing out the roadside drains? Another contributing factor is the rooting out of gardens to form a hard standing for cars.

In this area they are building hundreds and hundreds of houses. On these new estates there are no roads or pavements, grass or trees, just narrow paved areas. So what used to be a large, green field, hedgerows and trees is now wall to wall concrete. The developers have made no provision for drainage ditches and the like, so where is all the water going to go ?

[Pigmy Pony]

The one that goes past my house misses the nearby drains because it diverts its path to avoid the bollards on a speed hump. That is understandable but nobody follows up with a manual clear up.

And they can't get to the drains because all the parked cars get in the way :(

[Pigmy Pony]

Yup, all because of continued cutbacks in local council expenditure. Don't talk to me either about the paucity of police, protecting us now either in the event of an emergency (or 'bobbies on the beat'), due to the same! But of course, as long as we have enough bombs and nuclear submarines, we'll be all right...:rolleyes:

Marco.

The hoodies/scumbags that plague our streets clearly have no fear of the police, so extra coppers aren't going to make much difference. We need to get them together in one place, perhaps by announcing a closing down sale at Primark or Sports Direct, then we can put these bombs to good use :)

[Pigmy Pony]

did i tell you ive got a car :D and in the car is another car :eek:

Like a Russian doll, and very sensible!

Maybe stackable cars is the future, just need the shape modifying, and stronger roofs. Parking problems sorted :)

[Marco]

The hoodies/scumbags that plague our streets clearly have no fear of the police, so extra coppers aren't going to make much difference. We need to get them together in one place, perhaps by announcing a closing down sale at Primark or Sports Direct, then we can put these bombs to good use :)

:lolsign:

Or free chicken nuggets at Farmfoods!

Marco.

[Gaz]

The hoodies/scumbags that plague our streets clearly have no fear of the police, so extra coppers aren't going to make much difference. We need to get them together in one place, perhaps by announcing a closing down sale at Primark or Sports Direct, then we can put these bombs to good use :)

I like your thinking

[Marco]

Get yer Kappa trackies here, two for a £1..... :D

Marco.

[Gaz]

Ethnic cleansing

The way forward

[WESTLOWER]

Ethnic cleansing

The way forward

?!

[Pigmy Pony]

Ethnic cleansing

The way forward

Dunno about ethnic cleansing, I just think they could do with a good wash. Sweaty bodies, weed and man-made fibres aren't a good combination :(

[Joe]

?!

It's the logical next step after Brexit.

[User211]

Dunno about ethnic cleansing, I just think they could do with a good wash. Sweaty bodies, weed and man-made fibres aren't a good combination :(Prince Andrew would like you to know he doesn't sweat.

But I did hear he smokes copious amounts of weed...:D;)

[Marco]

Does a bit of Charlie too, I heard;)

Marco.

[Pigmy Pony]

Does a bit of Charlie too, I heard;)

Marco.

I heard about Prince Andrew's association with a certain recently-deceased perv, but with his own brother? That's all kinds of wrong :(

[Marco]

Don't get me started on the abhorrent escapades of the Monarchy, mate...!:rolleyes:

It's one of the reasons why I'd love to see the whole corrupt and outdated institution taken down.

Marco.

[walpurgis]

Take it all away from them and bung 'em on a chav ridden housing estate full of scumbags.

[Marco]

:D :yay:

:exactly::exactly:

Marco.

[Pigmy Pony]

:D :yay:

:exactly::exactly:

Marco.

According to Palace insiders Sir Geoffrey of South Hall may have an ulterior motive behind his (and I quote) "currying favour with the Celtic plebs", they just don't know what it is :(

[walpurgis]

Actually, being of Celtic descent himself (kept quiet about), Sir Geoffrey has a secret agenda. He is working on a confidential plan with a certain Marco, to have Hadrian's Wall completed. This time to keep the English out!

[Pigmy Pony]

So those skirts we sometimes saw him wearing were actually kilts after all.

[Pigmy Pony]

Actually, being of Celtic descent himself (kept quiet about), Sir Geoffrey has a secret agenda. He is working on a confidential plan with a certain Marco, to have Hadrian's Wall completed. This time to keep the English out!

I you want any windows fitted in the wall (so you can see the buggers coming), just give us a call.

Although the wall should address much of the security (planes/helicopters/drones notwithstanding), what's to stop me turning up at the gate with fake ID and claiming to be a Glaswegian returning from his holiday in Blackpool?

[Firebottle]

Your accent? :ner:

[Pigmy Pony]

Your accent? :ner:

Ah dinnae ken whit yer mean, ah kin dae Scoat's accent nae boather, so ye kin stoap yer greetin', och aye the noo, see you jimmy...

[struth]

Ah dinnae ken whit yer mean, ah kin dae Scoat's accent nae boather, so ye kin stoap yer greetin', och aye the noo, see you jimmy...You could get arrested with that kind of accent

[walpurgis]

or without it.

[Pigmy Pony]

I manage to get away with it down here, but if I tried that north of the border even my mates would give me a battering :(

[Marco]

Ah dinnae ken whit yer mean, ah kin dae Scoat's accent nae boather, so ye kin stoap yer greetin', och aye the noo, see you jimmy...

Stoap bumpin yer gums aboot ah load of auld pish, ya haverin' wee bawbag.

Marco.

[Pigmy Pony]

Stoap bumpin yer gums aboot ah load of auld pish, ya haverin' wee bawbag.

Marco.

I wondered when the Welsh were gonna join in :ner:

[Marco]

I'm only Welsh when behind a sheep:eyebrows:

Marco.