Pete McCluskey.
Lifetime Supporter
Hope all who live in the British isles are not to badly effected by the flooding.
And all is O.K. With all who frequent this forum.
And all is O.K. With all who frequent this forum.
U.K. Floods
- Thread starter Pete
- Start date
It's a bit damp for sure Pete, but nothing at all like Brisbane suffered.
They're never happy here. Not enough water - too much water blah blah blah..
A lot of this 'flooding' problem started with the Land Drainage Act of the '50's when the pressure was on to feed ourselves after WWII. Ditches were filled, hedges torn up, rivers diverted and new housing placed in previously 'wetland' locations. The result is that the rain has nowhere to go and runs off the land into the rivers, bypassing the aquifers causing summer water shortages despite the rainfall levels.
This isn't a new phenomena though, you would be amazed at the water levels reached in 1947, and the subsequent snowfall...
In fact, there is a rare flood warning for the River Lym not 1/2 mile from me, but I ain't bothered because I'm 100' above it! The flood risk comes from floodwater meeting Spring Tides pushed up by strong South Westerly winds. David is very near the Thames but the river is well managed with plenty of weirs etc.
Thanks for the concerns Pete mate. Another 50-75mm rain falling as I speak but it's moving Oop North soon 'cos it's their turn and they deserve it....
They're never happy here. Not enough water - too much water blah blah blah..
A lot of this 'flooding' problem started with the Land Drainage Act of the '50's when the pressure was on to feed ourselves after WWII. Ditches were filled, hedges torn up, rivers diverted and new housing placed in previously 'wetland' locations. The result is that the rain has nowhere to go and runs off the land into the rivers, bypassing the aquifers causing summer water shortages despite the rainfall levels.
This isn't a new phenomena though, you would be amazed at the water levels reached in 1947, and the subsequent snowfall...
In fact, there is a rare flood warning for the River Lym not 1/2 mile from me, but I ain't bothered because I'm 100' above it! The flood risk comes from floodwater meeting Spring Tides pushed up by strong South Westerly winds. David is very near the Thames but the river is well managed with plenty of weirs etc.
Thanks for the concerns Pete mate. Another 50-75mm rain falling as I speak but it's moving Oop North soon 'cos it's their turn and they deserve it....
Ian Anderson
Lifetime Supporter
Thanks for the concerns Pete
I drove over Hampton Court Bridge (over the Thames) this morning and the river was certainly a lot higher than normal but seemed to be flowing fairly well. What will happen when a high tide comes in and the flow is halted on the East side of London may get a few people's feet wet.
But as Keith says the houses are now being built on floodplains so the water has nowhere to go.
A few years back out near David they built a Canal to ease the Thames flow and it does just that and stops the water flooding over the previous flood plains (now covered in houses) - unfortuneately the water then gets dumped further downstream into the Thames and makes the areas down stream more prone to being flooded - even though for hundreds of years those areas have never flooded.
That said we seem to have got of fairly easy in this part of the country compared to Devon and Cornwall - I know there are a fair few GT40'ers down that neck of the woods and wish them well
Ian
I drove over Hampton Court Bridge (over the Thames) this morning and the river was certainly a lot higher than normal but seemed to be flowing fairly well. What will happen when a high tide comes in and the flow is halted on the East side of London may get a few people's feet wet.
But as Keith says the houses are now being built on floodplains so the water has nowhere to go.
A few years back out near David they built a Canal to ease the Thames flow and it does just that and stops the water flooding over the previous flood plains (now covered in houses) - unfortuneately the water then gets dumped further downstream into the Thames and makes the areas down stream more prone to being flooded - even though for hundreds of years those areas have never flooded.
That said we seem to have got of fairly easy in this part of the country compared to Devon and Cornwall - I know there are a fair few GT40'ers down that neck of the woods and wish them well
Ian
Here is a news video of the town where I hang out. Just a puddle, but thanks for your concern Pete et al.
BBC News - River Avon in Evesham: Flooding closes roads and schools
BBC News - River Avon in Evesham: Flooding closes roads and schools
David Morton
Lifetime Supporter
Having gone from South West to North east, the winds have changed (Buys Ballots law if you are interested) and its all coming back the other way. Probably not quite as heavy rain as last weekend ( which had an Atlantic track and now it has a much longer overland track) but more rain none the less.
The thing is and this really pisses me off. Towns near on over and beside rivers have and always will flood. What's the big surprise here folks? The fact that natural flood plains have been used to build holiday parks and marina devolpments upon? Or the fact that developers of these areas don't want to pay to build a suitable drainage infrastructures to support the developments? Why bother? It'll only statistically flood avery five years and the tax-payer can pick up the bill to improve the drains and build defenses.
Don't want to get flooded? Don't buy a house on a f***ing flood plain. If you do and it does, don't whine about it.
Don't want to get flooded? Don't buy a house on a f***ing flood plain. If you do and it does, don't whine about it.
Hoping all are okay!!!
We have numerous examples of this in the USA. The most notable being just about the entire city of New Orleans, Lousiana! Nearest me, however are places like Fargo North Dakota and its Minnesota neighbor Moorhead. Built just about entirely on a flood plain - they reach deeply into taxpayer pockets annually for flood relief dollars... :veryangry:
We have numerous examples of this in the USA. The most notable being just about the entire city of New Orleans, Lousiana! Nearest me, however are places like Fargo North Dakota and its Minnesota neighbor Moorhead. Built just about entirely on a flood plain - they reach deeply into taxpayer pockets annually for flood relief dollars... :veryangry:
+1!!! Also the EA don`t dredge any rivers now like they used to do for fear of disturbing the "Great Crested Nute" and his chums. Current rainfall for where I live is circa 1205mm for the year so far which has been exceptional and has made harvest the worst one I have ever had, no sunlight + constant rain = low yields and poor quality. It has also meant that only 60% of the winter cropping area has been planted so will have a knock on effect for next years harvest too. Have never seen the fields so wet ever but must`nt grumble I have friends who have not even planted a single grain of wheat. Cold dry spell forecast so some respite, fingers crossed.
I think you make an excellent point Chris regarding the dredging (or lack of) our rivers these days. Much sympathy for the strugging harvests. I know many farmers through business and it is very difficult for most of them right now. Increased energy costs to pump water away and to run crop dryers etc added to low yields makes things very worrying indeed.
