3:50pm Monday 8th March 2010
THE council, the environment agency and the ESG developers have not fully considered the impact of their actions regarding the flooding in Hereford. They may solve one problem by diverting the Yazor Brook into the Wye at Credenhill, but have overlooked one thing, and that is the mental anguish and stress of the added threat to our properties in Greyfriars Avenue and Wye Terrace! As for their results pronouncing that the impact on the flooding of our homes would be negligible at only 0.01%, I would like to see the results as I am not convinced. Also, when the river water is on my doorstep any added amount is not negligible! It is critical, even if in their eyes negligible. Believe me, they have no idea! If the water enters my property by even one inch it means lifting carpets, furniture, flooring, re-plastering, drying out, decorating, living upstairs for anything up to six months, cooking on camping gas and not being able to sleep for the sound of dehumidifiers and fans drying out the downstairs.
I would also like to point out that the studies that have been carried out have been based on a one in 100 year occurrence. How can this be as there has been no serious floods since the Asda flood defence was built in 2005 therefore making it impossible to compare any data with the added impact of the defence being in place? Their calculations are at best a guess!
My final point is regarding the Asda flood defence. Asda constructed a nine metre flood defence, seven metres below ground and two metres above ground, thus preventing potentially a nine metre depth of water penetrating across a natural floodplain, making out situation worse! money was spent elsewhere in an area that was not deemed to be threatened by the immediate consequences of the Asda flood defence. Planning permission was granted and we were shown a DVD virtual reality fly by of what our flood defences would look like, but once planning was passed this did not materialise.
The houses that will be protected in the ESG development area are not as prone to flooding as Greyfriars Avenue therefore, according to the government’s flooding plan, should be behind us in the current pointing system. This is all about money. And getting the ESG under construction. These decisions are immoral and unjust!
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