05/02/2014 Spotlight

rise. That is all

Good evening. Tonight, we bring you the latest from Dawlish. One of the

many communities across the south west caught in the eye of one of the

most ferocious storms in years. Tonight, it's left the regions main

railway line suspended in mid air, after a huge section of sea wall was

washed away. There are now serious concerns about the future of the

line. Elsewhere, homes in the village of

Kingsand were evacuated as two buildings were left perilously close

to collapsing into the sea, including the famous Clocktower.

Meanwhile, 50 people were forced to leave their homes off the Somerset

Levels, as the flood water there continues to rise and thousands of

homes right across the region are still without power.

One of the most violent storms in years. Here, in Dawlish, the sea

wall gave way. The region's main rail line is completely cut off

tonight with a section of track suspended in mid air, after the sea

wall underneath collapsed in Dawlish. It's unclear when the mind

reopened. `` when the line will reopen.

A destructive mix of wind, wave and tide struck the South West, and it

was Dawlish at the eye of the storm. 50 metres of sea wall was washed

away ` the ballast for the railway line with it. Around 50 homes were

undermined and evacuated. For many, the dreaded knock at the door coming

in the middle of the night. It's quite scary because we were

just left with the clothes on our back. I respect what they are doing.

I don't want to go in my house and try to get stuff unless it's safe.

We were lucky but I never thought that wall would go ` ever. And it's

gone. Who knows what's going to happen now. We're lucky.

Local people spoke of never having seen such violent seas. An emergency

refuge was set up at Dawlish leisure centre, for those forced out of

their homes by the storm. It was scary and traumatic, because

it's your home where all your stuff is. You are also worried about your

neighbours that you live around, and people's cars down the front. I was

in a bit of a state, but he was trying to keep me calm. We have a

little kitten as well, and I was worried about her.

Dawlish Railway Station was also damaged by the force of the weather.

Ballast and debris was driven into the town centre. The waves caused

flooding of many roads. Two people had to be rescued from a car stuck

in floodwater. The police declared a major incident, and praised the

public for their help in responding to the emergency.

We are very fortunate that the local community is fantastic. The local

support has been superb, with many offers of help and support.

Housing teams have spent much of the date seeking emergency accommodation

for people evacuated from their homes. Around 25 families have been

forced out. Officially, the position is that

houses here are being assessed for their safety, but residents fear

they will not be returning to their homes. Many expect they will have to

be abandoned to the sea. As for the main rail line, into and out of much

of Devon and all of Cornwall ` Network Rail could not say how long

it will be closed for, except that they expected to be six weeks at

least.e have declared the situation a major incident.

Are lots of houses were damaged here as well. Councillor Phil Vogel is

here with me. How are you doing with re`homing these people?

56 homes were evacuated, and we've been able to reach 33 of those homes

and spoken with the residents. Tonight, 14 of the homes have been

rehoused. Due to the incredible thanks and voluntary services from

all over the town, food and gifts to help those people affected. We will

contact people tomorrow to make another assessments. Meanwhile,

building control have been out and are helping.

How quickly will people be able to get back into their homes?

It needs another assessments tomorrow morning, after another

difficult high tide tonight. We have said that it's better that nobody

goes back until tomorrow, and a full assessment can be made once network

rail has given us their opinions. We'll let you get back to work.

People in the coastal community of Kingsand in Cornwall have been

describing the moment that last night's storm caused waves to crash

through doors and windows of seafront homes. One local councillor

said if it wasn't for the quick reaction of emergency services,

lives could have been lost. John Danks has this report.

One of the most terrifying nights of their life ` that's how one Kingsand

residents described the moment huge waves tore into this coastal

community. There was a roar and a bang like

artillery going off. The whole door just came off, and flew up in the

air. It came down into the water, and the sea just piled into the

house. My father was knocked to the ground, into the water, and dragged

around in the hall. I picked him up and got him upstairs, and then I

called the fire brigade. The bottom of the house is completely wrecked.

A number of seafront properties were engulfed by waves and debris. Around

20 people were evacuated ` some with injuries. Without the swift reaction

of emergency crews, some believe the situation could have been more

serious. It was very coordinated.

Coastguards, the Environment Agency, fire and rescue ` they were all on

hand. We went house to house, and got people out at an early stage,

and I think that was key. Had we wasted time there could have been

fatalities. This is a good illustration of how

powerful those waves were last night. This sea wall is a metre

thick, and the top of it has been skimmed off.

This morning saw further damage. The foundations of this clock tower were

washed away, leaving the building dangerously exposed. A number of

properties had windows smashed, and many experienced flooding.

I had a starfish in my sitting room, and there's water dripping off the

mantelpiece! People who own a holiday homes in

the village travelled down to inspect the damage.

There was debris everywhere and we weren't allowed to come down, so we

had no idea what it was going to be like.

It may have taken a beating, but residents say the community spirit

is still strong. People in Somerset are being warned

to leave their homes, this evening, as flood waters rise. Villages are

being evacuated and a rest centre has been set up in North Petherton

for families with nowhere to go. There are concerns in Taunton that

the River Tone might burst its banks. Madeleine Ware reports.

We seem to have some problem with Madden where's reports. If you are

concerned for your safety, you are urged to call the police. In

Porthleven this morning, at least six boats were sunk. A desperate

rescue operation was then launched to get the remaining undamaged boat

to safety. I've never seen it like this, as bad

as that. And I was here for the storm in 1989 when we lost a road `

it was nowhere near as bad as this. Even the harbour walls or flooding.

I've never seen that in 50 years. It's just horrendous.

There are much bigger and more expensive boats than mine that have

sunk, so it's a disaster for everyone here.

As the tide went out, everyone pulled together to winch and drag

out as many boats as possible, before the high tide tonight.

We have no bolts now, so we are completely open to the weather. We

can't really wait for these boats to float again, because the surf coming

in just sink the boat. We are just trying to make shift anything we

can, to try and get as many of the boat as we can moved with 4x4s or

tractors. High tide is at 9pm. For now, all

this village can do is watch and wait.

West Cornwall certainly bore the brunt of the storms begin with. Last

night 's huge waves tour or holes in the sea wall from new Lynn rounds to

the promenade in Penzance. At one stage, there was concern for a

missing ten`year`old, who was eventually located.

Eleanor Parkinson reports. As high tide hit this morning, the waves

made their presence felt and caught some people off their guard. This

morning, the huge waves were spectacular. Last night, combined

with a southerly gale`force wind, they were destructive. This is just

some of the damage that has been done overnight. Hundreds of these

huge paving stones have been lifted up off the promenade and washed into

the streets. This is quite spectacular, but it's

a terrible shame about all the damage that has been done.

I think last night got the brunt of it, but this morning the waves are

going off behind us. I think it's going to be a bit more picturesque

today, but there still seems to be quite a lot of devastation around on

the front. This hole in the harbour wall in

Newlyn, which went up yesterday, is now five times bigger. All the work

men can do is fence it off. Meanwhile, the police are diverted

to look for a 10`year`old boy, who went missing after he decided to go

wave watching. He was eventually found, but police are asking

everyone to take care. We've had a fair bit of flooding,

with trees down and power cables affected. Some cars have been swept

by the waves. There's a lot of disruption.

These surfers decided to brave the conditions, and ride the waves just

yards from the harbour wall. To me, it doesn't look safe out there.

Well, there's not much of the storm left now, since last night. It's

fine this morning. It's nice and clean out there now.

Back on the seafront, the clearup begins so they can reopen the road

to traffic. But they know they may soon have to do it all again.

There is concern about the flood water is rising in Somerset. A rest

and has been set up for families with nowhere to go will stop there

is renewed concern about the river Tone bursting its banks. Is a last

attempt to save what they can before leaving. With the help of

neighbours, this woman is shifting valuables of her Flora. She also has

a small holding here, with the gardener flooded. `` of her floor.

We've got dogs out in the kennels and they're going. The cats will

come with me to my daughters. How hard has this been for you? Really

dreadful. It's like Chinese torture, because it gets closer and closer.

She made the decision to go, but she was one of the few at that point.

Most people were determined to stay. They were filling sandbags by the

dozen. We've been told we might have to

evacuate, we're not sure. It's not in the house at the moment. We're

trying to batten down the hatches and see how things go.

Police had been going door`to`door and advising people to leave, but

this afternoon came a more dramatic morning.

There's going to be a high tide after 10pm this evening. Combined

with a high volume of water coming down the river and the heavy rain,

there is going to be a topping of the parrots. As the afternoon wore

on, more residents decided it was time to pack up and go.

It seems there is no choice any more. We've got to go. Once that

comes over the wall, there's no way of the flooding.

Out for all those joining the queue to leave, there were others

determined to day. Prepare to move upstairs and sit out, rather than

leave their homes to the mercy of the water.

People in Torcross were evacuated from their homes during last night's

storm as gale force winds and large waves lashed houses. As Spotlight's

Andy Breare reports, coastal communities across the whole of

Devon and Dorset have been devastated by the power of the sea.

They are used to the power of the sea here, but locals say last

night's Stormont was the worst for more than 30 years. As waves

battered the houses, coastguards decided to evacuate people. Around

20 properties where affected. The wave knocked in the door. We

were trying to rescue anything that within the part of the water when

the front window blew in. The coastguards came and said that we

had to evacuate. A lot of people couldn't or didn't

want to get out, because the waves were coming over the tops of the

buildings. But we managed to evacuate and nobody was hurt.

Chairs from this waterfront pub were washed into the car park. Getting

around has been difficult today, with roads turned into rivers. The

storm has badly damaged the pier and the sea wall intimate. In Dorset,

Portland was cut off. This caravan park was under water as the seed

breached the flood bank. Back in tour across, houses have been

boarded up as people start to assess the damage caused by the storm.

I've never seen a storm do so much damage. One or two cracked window

panes and things like that, but never the wide scale of destruction

but last night produced. Coastguards remain here, as

residents wonder if there will be more damage tonight at high tide.

Portland in Dorset has effectively spent the day cut off. The sea has

overtopped defences all along the coast, and properties in West Bay

have flooded. Let's take a look at the situation

here in Dawlish. The main rail line has been left hanging in midair.

This is a picturesque route, but its proximity to the sea means it is

becoming increasingly vulnerable to the weather. We were assessing the

impact that the closure of this line will have in the region.

The devastation of the track at Dawlish looks unprecedented. This

line has often seen shutdowns with millions of pounds poured into

regular maintenance and strengthening. But rail researcher

at Plymouth University shows that the longest period of destruction on

record with only 19 days. This destruction is likely to last at

least several weeks. The results of the line closure at

Dawlish a devastating. It's a great blow to commercial business trade.

It is of great concern. Can the Prime Minister confirm that

he is taking all action to get transport systems back in action? Is

that he will be fast tracking a review of the funding for a

breakwater to protect the railway line?

Members across the house know that this is a vital artery across our

country, and one of the most scenic and beautiful runway lines in our

country. It's hugely disturbing what has happened.

In the past, moving the line has been considered. In the late 1930s,

the GWR wanted a new routes that would have veered in lands. War puts

paid to that. There was a secondary line that connected Newton Abbot to

Exeter. Starve remains for freight, reopening the rest has occasionally

been suggested. If they reopen the line has long planned, it would

reconnect Tavistock. All these options are far beyond current

budgets. Joining me now is Patrick Hallgate

from Network Rail ` Neil, what's the latest this evening?

We've been down on the beach. There are four distinct areas of damage.

It could take a significant number of weeks to compare.

When will work start on the rebuilding? And when do you hope to

have the line open again? We said this morning that it would

be at least six weeks. Some of that really depends on when we can start,

depending on the tides in the next few days.

There is huge concerned that this is the final straw for this bit of

track. `` huge concern. We will be working round`the`clock

to get this line up and running. Is it practical?

We'll do all we can to get it back as quickly as possible.

There have been several high`level meetings today. The Prime Minister

chaired an emergency COBRA this afternoon. And, while we're on air,

many of the region's MPs are meeting the Transport Secretary to demand

urgent action here in Dawlish. Our Political Editor Martyn Oates joins

us now live from Westminster. Martyn, what's happened this

afternoon? The track, the Prime Minister said

he was determined to find a solution to fix the problem. What that

actually means remains to be seen. If the alternative is the bass,

that'll mean very delayed journeys quite some time. And what about this

other meeting with the transport secretary?)

that was organised by the Southwest Devon MP Gary Streeter. He was

trying to get all the local MPs along to that. MPs from all parties

across the region are absolutely furious about this, and demanding

immediate action to prepare it in the short`term. Increasing numbers

of people are saying that we need to be looking at an inland option

instead. Thank you very much. Let's find out

what the weather has in store for us.

Good evening. There is some good news, because the winds are already

dying down. They will continue to ease overnight, but we have more

rain in the forecast. That's something we haven't really

highlighted, because we've had all the problems with the coasts. The

rain has been quite heavy too. There is more about wet weather to come

tomorrow. These are the strongest gusts that we've recorded ` the

highest was 92 mph. All of us are seeing gusts of wind in excess of 65

mph. Slightly less inland. Names being from the warnings we have in

force after rain. Heavy rain tomorrow which will compound the we

already have. One area of low pressure is disappearing northwards.

We get another one coming into following. That area of low pressure

will throw a lot of wet weather towards us through the day tomorrow.

Some of the rainy afternoon could be heavy. That moves out of the way,

and for much of Friday there is some dry weather. There are lighter

winds, so it is the best day of this week. This is a new area of low

pressure, and you don't need me to tell you how tightly packed those as

the bars are. It's another very windy spell of weather on Friday

night and into the start of the weekend. There are some showers

dotted around, but most of those will fade away. Later on tonight,

those winds will drop to. It's good news all round tonight. Showery

activity fading away. By the morning, it's mostly dry, but not

particularly cold. Temperatures down to six or seven degrees. Tomorrow,

at least for the morning, it's dry, but the rain does this settle in. ``

the rain does set in. The winds are mostly from the South or Southeast,

but nowhere near the strength we've seen recently. We may have a problem

with winds from a different direction ` nor the winds, which

could be dusting to 60 mph. `` northern winds. Temperatures

tomorrow of nine or 10 degrees. Not feeling particularly warm because of

the rain. And the Isles of Scilly, less windy. And the important times

of high water are: for our surfers, the waves will be

massive and they are still very big overnight. They do come out dumb

down a bit. Still very big and dangerous. Anywhere from six to nine

feet. We have warnings in force for more wind and rain overnight on

Friday and Saturday. We have warnings on Saturday for more heavy

rain and strong winds. Perhaps quieter on Sunday for top but still

very windy conditions. Thank you. That it is this Wednesday

night. The weather has yet again dominated our headlines. BBC Radio

Devon and Cornwall Police special programmes into the early hours to

keep you updated. We'll leave you with a look at the impact the storm

has had on the Southwest. NICK CLEGG: Are you in,

or are you out? That's the real question at stake at

the European elections on May 2 nd. even though that would wreck

the recovery and destroy jobs. The Conservatives are now

openly flirting with exit, and the Labour Party, well, they

just don't have the courage they wouldn't lift a finger

to help keep Britain in the EU So I'm asking you

to vote for the Liberal Democrats, in for the sake of British

prosperity and jobs. I'm in because we set

the global standards 95% of everything we use, we eat we

heat ourselves in, comes in by sea.