Bromsgrove escapes worst of the floods

Buy photos » The stream running through Green Lane has been a regular site for residents over the years. Posted by Sarah Goode on The Standard's facebook page.

BROMSGROVE residents whose homes were prone to flooding in the past faced sleepness nights over the weekend after the heavy rain and high winds.

But, with the exception of a few isolated incidents, Bromsgrove appeared to escape the worst of the deluge.

We reported last month about improvements to balancing ponds in an area of Catshill which was prone to flooding.

Residents there, who had been on flood alert regularly, were up through the night on Sunday (November 25) but managed to prevent water a foot deep in places, entering their homes.

Sarah Goode went to help her mum who lives in Green Lane.

She said sandbags and the balancing ponds helped alleviate the problems this time round.

“They helped to an extent, but more needs to be done.

“What was put in place when the houses were built 40 years ago isn’t enough anymore.”

She added, although the water was spilling out over the ditches and the area was unrecognisable, the new flood defences did work.

Fellow Catshill resident Jayne King was among the residents on flood alert over the weekend.

She said she also believed the balancing ponds, which she helped campaign for, prevented greater problems.

“They were put in place to help protect our homes and if they had not been there we would have been flooded out again,” she added.

On Sunday morning at 2am, two people were rescued from a car trapped in flood-water in Wolf Lane, Tardebigge.

Less than an hour later, gas and electric had to be isolated at a cottage in Hanbury as firefighters made efforts to pump water from the property.

In the 48 hours, officers from North Worcestershire Water Management used sandbags to defend more than 50 properties, which were known to face flooding threats.

A service spokesman also revealed the Waseley Hills was hit by more rain - 38mm - over Saturday and Sunday - than anywhere else in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) received 80 flood-related calls over the weekend with the majority of incidents occurring in the south of the county.

Ian Prust, HWFRS Group Commander said the staff were now properly trained to handle floods and the service was better prepared following severe conditions and widespread disruption in 2007.

Regional news »