Latest news with #IanWithers
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Flood-hit Bradford-on-Avon resudents advised to 'use gaffer tape'
Residents and businesses have been told by the Environment Agency that one option is to use gaffer tape to protect their properties after the chance of a comprehensive £11m flood protection scheme was ruled near Bath, was badly flooded in November 2024 during Storm Withers, the Environment Agency's Area Director for Wessex said that he was "completely comfortable" recommending gaffer tape, because it will "keep water out" longer than sandbags and buy people "thinking time".The agency said a permanent flood scheme for the Wiltshire town was unviable, with prospective costs having more than doubled since it was proposed in 2017. Mr Withers added that those with properties close to the river should be prepared."Having a supply of duct tape or gaffer tape in your shop, to seal up the front door makes a huge difference. Traditionally, everyone thinks sandbags are the answer. "In fact, running gaffer tape around your door will keep water out for far longer than sandbags will."The rejected flood scheme, which involved the installation of low walls and pumping stations, was initially budgeted at £4.5 million, but has since risen to an expected £11 million. David Waldren, owner of The Cake Architect on Silver Street, said he believed the decision over the flood scheme was "short sighted"."It always seems like people don't want to take the risk of making a long-term change," he said."In the long run, it's going to cost more, it's going to cause businesses to close. It's going to cause residents to move out." Town mayor Jack Vittles said that the agency's decision was not a surprise.[It's] definitely disappointing and frustrating [but] not in any way unexpected.""The funding gap was large when they shelved the project a number of years ago. That funding gap has only grown."Environment Agency operations manager Ron Curtis said the agency remains "committed to supporting Bradford-on-Avon in adapting to flood risks through community resilience measures".
BBC News
28-01-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Somerset floods: Major clean up operation underway
A clean up operation is underway after major flooding hit the county of Somerset in the south west of England. Storm Herminia brought wind and heavy rain to much of Wales and southern caused by the storm forced some people in Somerset to be evacuated from their homes on Monday as a precaution, some schools and businesses had to close and there were power cuts across the region. A major incident was declared in the county on Monday because of the flooding, which has since been stood down. Emergency rest centres have been opened and some roads, schools and shops have been shut due to the flooding. Ian Withers, from the Environment Agency, said there was "a huge amount of water" in the rivers and the systems saying it is impossible to predict where the intense showers will fall. He said: "So the message for us, our partners and communities is to think we could be the victims of this type of rain, and with climate change, that is more likely to happen, so we need to make our homes, businesses or travel plans more resilient." The Met Office said that over the month of January, the south of the UK had been wetter than the north, which is not normally the said conditions were improving with "a quieter spell of weather" due from Thursday.
