Repeated Nottinghamshire flooding is ‘pure hell’ for residents – council chief

A senior councillor has said residents hit by flooding in the Newark area of Nottinghamshire have been through “pure hell” – with some affected by floodwaters three times in just three months.

Councillor Paul Taylor, the portfolio holder for Public Protection at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said “massive” investment was needed in flood protection but the immediate priority was helping and protecting local people.

Speaking to the PA news agency on Friday, he expressed concern at the situation along the River Trent and River Maun, including areas of Gibsmere, Bleasby, Lowdham, Collingham, Farndon and Fiskerston.

Official river gauges show the River Trent reached a high of 2.65 metres on Friday at Farndon, almost at the record level of 2.76 metres seen in November 2000.

Cllr Taylor said: “It’s really hard going at the moment. We have got volunteers, flood warnings and staff out from a range of agencies supporting people.

“Some villages are cut off. We’re finding that we are having to help people get medication because they can’t get out of their villages – a whole range of things.

“This is the third time in as many months that we’ve had issues with flooding.”

The councillor added: “Whilst at the moment it’s the emergency situation that we are having to deal with, once it’s over, I want to reassure people that we will be looking at a longer-term solution to come up with a plan to stop this happening every month.”

Warning people not to enter floodwater and to keep children and pets out of flooded areas, Mr Taylor continued: “I think this is one of the worst situations that we have seen.

“The levels are bad… it’s the third time in three months that some people have had their homes flooded. People are going through pure hell.

“People are saying enough is enough and that they want to see some action.

“But that’s not for now. The current situation is dealing with people that are in danger to make sure that they are safe and tackling the immediate issues.”

Water levels are believed to have reached their peak in some areas along the Trent, but a local community centre remains open as a place of safety.

“We are getting areas that haven’t normally flooded, flooding now,” Mr Taylor said. “Two or three times in two or three months is just beyond what is reasonable for people to have to put up with.

“There is going to have to be some massive investment.”

Ken Button, who works at Kirk and Bill’s, a furniture workshop in Farndon Road, Newark, said water has risen up through the floorboards and drains due to flooding caused by Storm Henk.

Mr Button said: “This is the second time I can ever remember it happening.

“The last time was around 2000, and the building is well over 100 years old, and it hasn’t been a problem in the past, but for some reason or other it is now, which is presumably a sign of climate change.

“It’s been a terrible start to the new year.”