10/02/2014 Midlands Today

News at Six so it's goodbye from me, News at Six so it's goodbye from me,

Hello, welcome to Midlands Today, coming to you from the city centre

of Worcester, facing its worst floods for years. The headlines

tonight: The river level is equal to the

floods of 2007. It's expected to go higher tomorrow. I am worried about

later in the week because it is going to come back again with the

river already feel. We'll be finding out just how well

the flood barriers have been working all along the Severn. Also this

evening: Just downstream homes have been

flooded, though. Why residents of this village say they've been

abandoned. Obviously a bigger village or town has to come first

but we are still people and still suffering.

Busy times for the emergency services rescuing people by boat

from the rising flood waters. Sadly there is very little comfort

in the forecast with further complications to come. I have to say

that rain is only part of the problem. Join me shortly for the

very latest. Good evening from the centre of

Worcester. Just behind me, the main bridge across the Severn was shut by

floodwater earlier today, cutting the city in two. It's open again now

but for how long? The river's already reached the level of the

devastating floods of 2007. Since then, flood barriers have

successfully protected homes. But all the signs are that the waters

will get even higher tomorrow. Cath Mackie has spent the day in a city

learning to live once more with the floods.

First light in Worcester and the sun rises revealing a city under

water... And a city almost cut in two. The historic bridge, a major

arterial route, was closed to traffic.

In the rush hour, the city centre roads were eerily quiet. But on the

outskirts, thousands of commuters were forced to find another way in.

The swans too were forced off course as the river and road merged into

one by Gheluvelt park. People living nearby waded home. But at least

their flood barriers were stopping the water from getting inside. The

river has been up and down constantly. I am worried about later

in the week because it is going to come back with the river already

fooled. Other than that, we are dry as a bone. The central bus station

is currently closed and buses diverted. Road works too have been

suspended. But by lunchtime, some good news ` the bridge was partially

opened to traffic. There are people working around the clock. The bridge

is open again however given the forecast and the amount of rain that

is coming down, or might, we cannot rule out the possibility of having

to close it again. With more rain expected, the river levels will be

going up and down all week so we can expect more road closures and more

disruption. And that'll impact on the local economy. Businesses are

worried. If they cannot get people into shop or eight or whatever it

may be. We got the bridge open as soon as we could and we will keep

managing it to make sure we get the best resilience out of the network.

Local businesses are hoping the message gets through. A job for

anybody to get through to deliver anybody to others have not been able

to this morning. No customers, obviously, because it has frightened

everybody away. Since we saw the impact of the flooding, I knew it

would be a quiet day today and hopefully it only lasts for maybe

today, maybe tomorrow and then we can get back to business. Since the

big flood of 2007, millions have been spent on flood defences along

the Severn and today they held. But Worcester's floodwaters remain a

wonder to behold. I have come from Manchester. It rains a lot but

nothing like this. What do you think? Let's have a look at the

weather terrible, absolutely terrible. Unbelievable. The city may

have witnessd scenes like this before but it doesn't make it any

easier. Cath Mackie, BBC Midlands Today, Worcester.

So far this city is coping well with the floods. Money spent on flood

barriers means we've seen nothing like the devastation and misery from

floods in the past. But south of Tewkesbury, the village of Chaceley

isn't protected. Homes have been flooded and families say they feel

abandoned, as Steve Knibbs has been finding out.

The population of this village is around 100 and flooding is a regular

occurrence. Roads and lanes are covered in several metres of water.

The only transport for the landlord of the local pub is by boat. We are

just busy getting everything out of the water. It is just going up and

up. This water arrived on Christmas Eve and has not gone away. What is

frustrating for the residents, and incredible when you think about it,

is that we are one mile away from the river. Unlike places like

Somerset, there are no pumps. Well rehearsed plans to protect homes

have been put in place when again. It is part of village life but does

not get any easier. Many here feared their plight is being ignored. We

are only a small village and there is only a few others. Obviously a

bigger village or town has to come first but we are still people and we

are still suffering, all of us along here in the village. I think we need

to have something done here also. The flooding is a 20th`century

problem. It is blamed on large`scale development on the flood plains and

pumps put in a further the river. As a result, it gets to Gloucester and

there is a massive constriction of the river in Gloucester, huge

development has taken place and we have on step. What happens is the

river reaches a pinch point, you cannot go through, it backs up and

comes over here. Villagers want a storm drain built by the Environment

Agency admits that current spending rules, requiring a good return on

investment, make it unlikely. In the meantime, people here are coping

stop but with the water still here after several weeks and nothing

being done, patience is thin. So what are the prospects of more

rain over the next few days making a critical situation even worse.

Shefali is back in the studio. Houses looking? Not really. We will

have quite a spell of weather this week but certainly, the emphasis is

still very much on ring. Not only that, it is going to be colder in

recent weeks. This is the air mass that we are currently buried under,

the expanse of blue. It is originating from the North. Rain and

cold is never a good combination of the best of times and this will lead

to snow on life. It is not to be taken lightly because there are

warnings for all three, and that will apply to a lot of places.

Dear oh dear. Downstream from here, flood barriers

have been protecting most homes in Upton on Severn. But there's still

been serious disruption to many people's lives, with bridges closed

and roads impassable. Ben Sidwell reports on the struggle to cope with

life by the rising waters. Being pulled to safety, yet another

victim of this winter's floods. Despite defensive around her

property, overnight this woman's home eventually succumbed to the

rising water. The water is coming in, yes. Everything has been lifted

or taken upstairs that we can. You know? Sheila is not alone. One of

her neighbours, who also had to be rescued, only moved into his house

in October. It has been three or four times since Christmas and it

has not come in the houses but there is so much that it has found a way

in and we cannot stop it. Out on the river itself, the rescue team can

get a good look at those still in potential danger. To give you some

idea of just how bad the river is, take a look behind me. That area

there, where a few things sticking out of the water, is the caravan

park. From the board, it is easy to see the extent of the flooding all

around the time. The water is coming up so quickly. It is really getting

people to a safe position as possible. The river here in Upton is

currently 5.4 metres above its normal level. As you can see on the

post behind me, in fact some way to go to match the level in 2007. There

is some good news in Upton. The majority of flood defences are

working and holding back the river. While the town may be dry, the water

has to go somewhere. Today, that somewhere included this man's home.

Have the flood defences worked against you? The water was so loud,

it was almost impossible to hear him. Harry said it was definitely

being pushed towards his eyes and he was now facing a constant battle

around the clock to save his own. `` towards his house. As another person

is risky, the worry is that they may not have seen the worst of the

flooding here. Well, a lot of attention has been

focused here in Worcester. But up and down the swollen River Severn,

people and communities have been having to cope with what nature has

thrown at them. There are 46 flood warnings across the region tonight

and 25 flood alerts. Ben Godfrey begins his report further upstream

along the Severn in Shrewsbury. The speed of the rising River Severn

is uncompromising at this car park near English Bridge in Shrewsbury.

Vehicles are being written off. There were about 24 cars here this

morning. Three quarters of those have been removed by the council or

owners. There are still six trapped in the water.

The Environment Agency says the Severn will peak in the town at

close to 4.5 metres, a level not seen for around a decade.

It is about four inches at the front of the garage and is just going to

get a deeper. Graeme MacLeod is rescuing his

belongings. Floodwater has seeped into his apartment near Wyle Cop. I

have only got two days left in this property. I have just signed the

lease for my new place so I am going to have to shift all the boxes. I

have already got boxes of year. It is unfortunate timing. Elsewhere,

the floodwaters have become something of a public spectacle on

the River Wye in Hereford. But a dangerous one. A motorist had to be

rescued by fire crews yesterday. The Avon burst its banks in Stratford.

In Bridgnorth, the Severn was swallowing everything in its path.

And as if the rain hadn't brought enough chaos, there was heavy snow

in Oswestry this morning. Standing water has made driving conditions

treacherous. Is there any driving technique that you can employ to

make your life easier? Nice and slow and steady like I say. Use a care if

you have got that or some sort of gauge. Not too fast. The unfortunate

thing is that you have got no control over people coming towards

you doing the same thing, you can double the depth of the water. In

Bredon, near Tewkesbury, pub regulars were determined to keep the

landlords out of deep water, proving community spirit is undiminished.

Despite the encroaching River Avon, this business is staying open. Some

of the customers that came in this morning drove up as near as they

could, came in, grabbed a there and fetched me sandbags and it is great.

It is a lovely little community pub and... You know, just hoping the

water does not finish me off. Tonight, though, it's back in

Shrewsbury where property may be at greatest risk after days of heavy

rain in North Shropshire and Powys. Barriers are up at Coleham Head and

the pumps are primed for action. Ben Godfrey, BBC Midlands Today,

Shrewsbury. Our environment correspondent David

Gregory Kumar has been assessing the situation for us. What's the overall

picture and why do these floods seem to have hit so hard, David? This is

the latest information. to have hit so hard, David? This is

the Over 30 flood warnings, clustered along the length of the

river from above Shrewsbury down to Gloucester. We also have flood

warnings in Hereford. That means people affected should be moving

their families, pets and valuables to a safe location and put any flood

protection equipment in place. Bridges in Worcester City Centre,

Bewdley and Upton upon Severn were closed during the day and roads in

and around Lemptster and Hereford are also affected by floodwater. And

why has all this happened? Well, the Environment Agency say in January

the Midlands saw 224% of average rainfall, making it the wettest

January on record in the Midlands. River flows across the region are

considerably higher than normal and our soils are saturated. So there's

a lot of water out there, more is coming, the ground is too wet to

soak it up, so we get flooding. So that's now, but how does this

compare to floods in the past and what's changed in how we cope with

them? Well, these are our most recent large flood events in the

Midlands. It's actually really hard to compare them because they can be

so different in terms of area affected and volume and duration of

rainfall. But in terms of properties flooded, things got progressively

worse from 1998 to 2007. But since 2007 here in the Midlands, there's

been massive investment in flood defences. The Environment Agency

have spent around ?20m pounds and all this investment means around

1,300 homes in the Severn catchment are now protected from flooding. And

around 2,000 homes across the midlands in total. Those are

properties that are dry today that would have been flooded in the past.

The River Severn is now at its highest level in Worcester since the

summer of 2007, our last major flood. Of course we won't know

exactly how this flood compares to others because this one isn't over

yet. Shefali will have the forecast later on.

Joining me now is Dave Throup from the Environment Agency. Good

evening. What's the situation tonight? It is fairly stable. The

Severn peaked earlier on but we are expecting it to peak again tomorrow

as the water comes down the catchment from Wales. Labels are

going to start to rise again. Worcestershire County Council said

that they reckon that great parts of the county could be closed for a

week. There is certainly a chance. These are the highest we have seen

since 2007 and particularly the rural and remote communities on the

larger areas of the flood plain, they are under water and will stay

that way for a while. Some people have contacted us because they're

worried debris is being swept against bridges blocking the flow

and that could create a dam effect. Is there anything you are able to do

about that? Not in the short`term. Not while the water levels are like

this. We have to wait for them to drop before we can safely get them

away. As soon as they do drop then we will tackle that. They do not

present an immediate dangers so we will tackle them when it is safe. Do

you expect the flood defences to hold in general? They're working

very well. We have got 1300 homes that are dry but would be wit. They

do not maintain ourselves and our guys are working 24/7 to make sure

that they are keeping people drive. If the levels are going to go up,

we'll still be enough? We are confident they will still be

protected. We are not expecting 2007 levels here. These are very high

levels but at the moment, they are manageable. It depends what really

get in the future. They much a layman 's question, if you have got

the defence is doing all these good jobs and protecting homes, but as

the water go? It pushes it further downstream. The displacement from a

flood defence is timely, in the scheme of things. Imagine the size

of the flood plain further down, it makes a very tiny difference. We

think of all that before we build any scheme. Thank you very much.

And of course this is a rapidly changing situation. So for all the

best local, up to date information, do tune into your BBC local radio

station. A round up of some other news.

Police are continuing to investigate a fire at a house in Dudley in which

a man died. Officers believe it was started deliberately. A 42`year`old

woman and two boys, aged nine and 15, got out of the house seconds

before the fire took hold at the property in the Holly Hall area on

Saturday. Police say they're not looking for anyone else in

connection with the fire. A kayaker found dead in a flooded

river in Wales has been named as Gareth Lockyer, from Warwick. The

34`year`old got into difficulty whilst on the River Usk in Powys

yesterday afternoon. His family have described him as a kind, caring and

gentle person. Covering 50 acres of a celebrated

landscape with polytunnels would be environmental vandalism, say

villagers in Gloucestershire. Plans by a farmer would allow him to grow

asparagus all year round. But protesters say it would destroy

views revered by some of our greatest poets. Bob Hockenhull

reports. The fields around this village in

Gloucestershire have been admired for decades. Some of our most famous

writers next year. They included World War I poets Edward Thomas and

Rupert Brooke, inspired by the countryside. This is one of the most

important literary landscapes in England. This is only part with the

Lake District, where Wordsworth wrote poetry. Why should this be any

different? Admirers of the poets are horrified modern farming practices

are intruding on the area. Poly tunnels have already been put up on

neighbouring fields. Tomorrow, plans to fill this is the valley with many

more will be discussed by planners. The traditional outdoor asparagus

season is 12 weeks. Henry has the `` says the pouring tunnels will allow

him to grow asparagus all year to meet a growing market. He says it

will prevent so much of the crop having to be imported from Peru,

cutting down on carbon dioxide emissions. Clearly our history is

important that we also have to look to the future. Yes, there will be

some visual impact from certain areas but I do not think it is

changing the landscape that drastically or permanently. The poly

tunnel proposals mean a footpath created in memory of the poets will

have to be changed. At the moment, the footpath follows the hedge at

the edge of the field. If the plans go ahead, instead, people will be

walking along this ridge. The difference of 120 metres. The

friends of the poets have created this small exhibition along the

trail. If I should die, think only this of me, that there is some

corner of a foreign field that is forever England. There shall be in

that rich earth, a richer dust concealed. For them, the words of

their heroes will be forever tainted if this much loved countryside is

covered with a sea of polythene. Poignant words they are too.

Police investigating the disappearance of Nicola Payne have

started to search a nature reserve in Coventry. Nicola went missing in

December 1991 and has never been found. Today, West Midlands Police

began searching in a small area of land in Binley.

Police say an investigation into allegations that the Midlands MEP

Nikki Sinclaire conspired to defraud the European Parliament is proving

to be long and complex. She was arrested in February 2012, with

three other people, as part of an inquiry into allowance and expenses

claims dating from 2010. Ms Sinclaire denies all the allegations

and is currently on bail until the end of May.

For the first time in nearly four years, West Midlands Police are

recruiting new officers. They'll be taking on 450 new constables over

the next two years, from April onwards. You can register your

interest by logging on at the force's website from today.

In football, West Bromwich Albion have slipped into the bottom three

of the Premier League for the first time this season. After four games

in charge, Head Coach Pepe Mel is still without a win. And a clash

with league leaders Chelsea tomorrow is just one of a string of tough

fixtures ahead, as Ian Winter reports.

The rain in Spain is nothing compared to England so he is going

home, not because he is sick of full weather or because Albion have

slumped into the bottom three, oh, no, he is flying his team of four

weeks training in warm sunshine. First, they face the daunting task

of Chelsea. It is difficult because Jose Mourinho, Madrid, inter`Milan,

it is difficult. Albion's problems began long before he arrived in the

Premier League. On Saturday, they were 2`0 down inside the first half

hour at Crystal Palace, and the alarm bells were ringing. Within 36

seconds of coming on, their French loan signing Thievy scored on his

debut to make it 2`1. Then a Palace penalty sealed their fate. Albion

have now won just one of the last 15 Premier League games, not exactly

inspiring confidence before Chelsea, Fulham, and Manchester United all

visit the Hawthorns in the next three weeks. For the next season, it

is my work. The players think it is possible to win tomorrow. Against

the meanest defence in the Premier League? We will see. Villa's woeful

home form shows little sign of improvement. A couple of goals

inside three minutes just after half time allowed Kevin Nolan to claim a

2`0 victory for West Ham. Marc Albrighton was unlucky not to score.

But this result leaves Villa on 27 points, just six more than tomorrow

night's opponents, Cardiff City. And Stoke City are also one of 11 teams

fighting for survival. Twice they levelled the score to earn a 2`2

draw away to Southampton. And they'll now be hoping to go one

better at home to Swansea on Wednesday.

Good luck to Albion tomorrow night. Chelsea are on fire. Now, all

important weather forecast. Thank you very much, Nick. Wherever

you look, brain is not far away. What makes matters worse is the way

it feels. Unlike previous weeks, were temperatures have been above

average for a time of year, this week it is going to be much colder.

We are under this expanse of blue, a cold air mass originating from the

North. Temperatures will start to plummet. There are warnings a plenty

but the one I wanted to highlight as this amber warning, for wind. That

is for Wednesday and applies to Worcestershire, Herefordshire and

Shropshire with gusts of around 60 bells per hour. Because it is amber,

it is more serious and means it is a greater likelihood of cladding. For

other aspects of the weather, we have yellow warnings. It is going to

be unsettled throughout the week, more rain on the way. It will also

turn colder. Rain and cold means we can see problems of ice and snow.

Some of those yellow warnings apply to the rain arriving later on

tonight. To begin with, a few showers. Montreal with a howl tops

to the north. These will clear and then `` wintry on the hilltops to

the North. There could be ice. Later in the night, we see this rain, the

next band of rain, coming in from the West. This will turn heavier

from the early hours of tomorrow. There could be 20 millimetres of

rain in places. Moving rapidly, spurred on by the winds, it could

cost up to 50 mph. It will be followed by drier conditions and

just a sprinkling of showers across the north of the region. Again, they

will turn wintry over the hilltops but otherwise, plenty of sunshine

elsewhere. Now, we are looking at more snow tomorrow night, into the

early hours of Wednesday morning. We have got quite a few areas of white

showing up later in the night. This could lead to between 2`5

centimetres of snow. Thank you very much.

Our main headline tonight is, of course, about the floods both here

and in other parts of the country. In fact, flooding dominates the

news. The Thames has burst its banks, flooding hundreds of homes.

Here the River Severn is causing most concern, with the waters

expected to peak above the levels of the devastating floods of 2007.

Joining me live now is floods expert Mary Dhonau. Mary Dhonau, you know

all about flooding, you've experienced it yourself. I call you

an expert because you have been through it. How do you think it has

been handled? Tremendously well. If we cast our mind back to 2000 and

seven, so many communities along the river, including me, all flooded.

Because of the hard work the Environment Agency has done, many

communities along the Severn just have not flooded this time. I always

have to put a caveat because a flood defence always reduces your risk. It

does not take it away. My word to everybody is to Steve vigilant and

be prepared. How do you think people are coping generally? Generally

speaking, very well. Good old British stoicism. There is nothing

worse than being flooded and I have to say, a huge tribute is due to the

vibrant agency for the sterling work they have done. They have come in

for criticism. I would like to make Eric Pickles into a sandbag equals

he has said things that have been so out of order and morality has to be

kept up because they're working so hard. Tell me this, as somebody who

has been through the experience of having your own flooded, I should

imagine it is devastating question marks it is appalling. There are no

words to describe it. When I went downstairs in the morning and for

the flood water waist deep in my house and when the flood water is

gone there is filth left behind, sewage, stench, you lose everything.

I lost drawings, photographs, my home was lobbed into a skip. Then

you have to become a building for man. You just literally, your life

is torn apart. Thank you very much. Let's hope not too many people go

through that this time. That was the Midlands Today. I'll be

back at 10pm with the very latest on the flooding situation. And we'll be

broadcasting live on this story of course for just as long as the

waters continue to threaten homes and livelihoods. For tonight, stay

dry and stay safe. Goodbye.