Flood letter causes alarm (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Flood letter causes alarm

HUNDREDS of people living along the River Churn in Cirencester are facing the risk of having their homes flooded according to a new report sent to residents this week.

Letter sent by the Environment Agency warned homeowners of 'filthy contaminated flood water' which could destroy their homes.

The Environment Agency has also produced a map showing more than 800 properties along the banks of the river could be affected by flooding from heavy downpours.

Houses were flooded in December 2000 when the River Churn burst its banks, leaving gardens and roads under water.

According to the new map vast areas of Cirencester face the threat of flood waters lapping at their doors.

This includes large area of Watermoor, the swan sanctuary at City Bank, Beeches car park and the Tesco store at Kingsmeadow.

Parts of the Abbey Grounds, including the historic Norman Arch and the remains of the Roman town walls, are also highlighted on the Environment Agency's map of areas at risk.

But Gloucestershire County Councillor Roger Brown, who lives in one of the areas deemed at risk, said residents are fed up and want the agency to either remove them from risk areas or provide adequate defences if they are genuinely at risk.

He said: "It is clear that the Environment Agency has not put enough resources into this project and put it as a low priority- its much easier to automatically send out warning letters than actually do something and many elderly residents must be seriously worried about the tone of these letters.

"Its simple to me- take unthreatened homes out of the risk areas and provide those really at risk with adequate flood defences."

He is also critical of the Agency's Thames Region failure to liaise with other authorities affected such as his own - Gloucestershire's county planners had no knowledge of the flood project until he briefed them recently.

He said: "The agency seem to be trying to transfer risk to householders, and encourage them to buy so-called flood proofing products. In reality, most people are totally powerless to do much to minimise risk- if it really exists at all."