neil 524 #1 Posted February 6, 2014 This is one of the reasons why Somerset is currently are under water http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/10595534/Somerset-Levels-Theres-nothing-natural-about-this-man-made-flooding.html Here are just a few pics of what it is like here in Somerset . some people are stranded without food or heating or Electricity or even a phone to call for help My own house is surrounded with water and water is lapping against the house walls . 1 simar kid reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pmackellow 2,738 #2 Posted February 6, 2014 Thats dreadful Neil, my sympathy is with you all Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simar kid 22 #3 Posted February 6, 2014 blimey how many times has this happened to you neil in the last 5 years ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #4 Posted February 6, 2014 I agree with the comments about the Environment Agency. They have stopped cleaning out the some of drainage channels here. There are also pumping stations that they are threatening to turn off to save THEM money. If a farmer wants to clean out channels on HIS property, he must first get permission from the E.A. That can take three months to get. Also you can only do it at certain times of the year. Before the E.A. was set up, drains were cleaned all year round. Get rid of the environmentalists, along with DEFRA, and bring back the local water authorities and let them and the farmers do the job properly. Stay safe Neil. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neil 524 #5 Posted February 6, 2014 In the 6 years i have lived here i have been flooded 4 times , The summer of 2012 was the worst , but this is now getting that way . Here a few pictures taken from my bedroom window & we also lost a large tree from high winds at the weekend Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TITCH 84 #6 Posted February 6, 2014 Neil, I dread to think what it must be like for you & family, we have elongated floods along either end of our lane, and an enormous pool across our lawns spreading towards the house, but it is NOTHING in comparison to your circumstances. Your quote from the Telegraph paper is nationally accurate, we have had the same troubles for 25 years+ relating to ditch cleaning.. and they all literally 'connect' Ditch - Stream - River - Sea. Dredging from the sea inland is the only way to release this water, and in your case at below sea level, there should be the runaways purposely built as well as the ditches to take that water away. There's a certain Led Zeppelin track here that we can relate to I'm sure.......... but we don't want it to happen... Neil, here's to hoping you & surrounding folk and landowners with livestock can ride this out, safely... Titch Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nylyon 171 #7 Posted February 6, 2014 It's sad that this hasn't made the news here. I was speaking with a customer of mine who lives in your area saying that a train rail line is wiped out as well. Terrible what's going on. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TITCH 84 #8 Posted February 6, 2014 Have a 'Google' on say.... BBC News UK.... terrible storms lashing South West Coast and inland areas below sea level flooding... a bit bad for the UK... maybe a helping few Billion from the EU would assist matters... 'As If eh'? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neil 524 #9 Posted February 6, 2014 Karl, The place where the railway line has collapsed is in a small town in the South west UK called Dawlish which forms part of the historical Jurassic coast which is millions of years old & has fossils from the Jurassic period.http://www.itv.com/news/2014-02-05/huge-waves-damage-railway-line-in-dawlish/ Here is a picture of what it would normally look like & here are some picture of the recent storm damage 1 Lauber1 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Charioux 16 #10 Posted February 7, 2014 Hello everybody I feel sorry for them: a friend of mine told that some villages are as islands for one month or more! What's a pitty! My toughts are with people who suffer of this flood in Somerset and Devon. Is Buckfastleigh far from this? André Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meadowfield 1,900 #11 Posted February 7, 2014 Neil, Not good at all, despite the rain up north, we still haven't seen the rivers burst their banks yet. I guess we are still filling reservoirs here! Here's hoping the rain stops soon for you down there, it looks like they are now trying to sort things out there. All a little too late for you guys though, typical government... Send some rain up here Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ian 2,417 #12 Posted February 7, 2014 Ouch Neil, that's not good at all! You have had quite a bad few months with the weather! Let's hope the weather makes a turn around real soon and spring get's here.. I agree with the comments about the Environment Agency. They have stopped cleaning out the some of drainage channels here. There are also pumping stations that they are threatening to turn off to save THEM money. If a farmer wants to clean out channels on HIS property, he must first get permission from the E.A. That can take three months to get. Also you can only do it at certain times of the year. Before the E.A. was set up, drains were cleaned all year round. Get rid of the environmentalists, along with DEFRA, and bring back the local water authorities and let them and the farmers do the job properly. Stay safe Neil. Up to 3 months to get permission from the EA to clear out your own drainage ditches! That's mad! A blocked drainage ditch is the reason my lane has been flooded so many times over the past month odd! Click on the image to see the video. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #13 Posted February 7, 2014 Our lane used to flood regularly, Ian. There's two ponds on the left there and that is the only way in and out. Only I could get through with the Land Rover. They drain via a culvert under the lane. Got on to the council and highways and couldn't get anywhere. Eventually I phoned Border Television and it made the news. Things got done after that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lauber1 51 #14 Posted February 7, 2014 Those pictures remind me of 2008 floods we had here. Our normal 12-15' river became a 33' torrent after 30 days of steady rain. We ended up losing most of the towns business areas, roads, and over 100,000 acres of farm land. In the last few yrs we haven't really been able to buy a rain. Funny how we get these wild swings in weather, every couple of yrs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nigel 1,877 #15 Posted February 7, 2014 looks like we are going to get hit with a lot more tonight and tommorow satalite picts look bad and its heading our way Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neil 524 #16 Posted February 7, 2014 Ande . Buckfastleigh is about half hour drive from where i live , but it very near Dawlish that has been hit very hard . Thanx for the concern guys , I have one hell of a lot of clearing up to do when the water receeds . Trees down , about 25 fence panels plus all the clearing up of debrit from the flooding . I am not even contemplating putting up new fences until the high winds drop , so i guess its gonna be a busy spring with most weekends taken up repairing things . Not gonna have much time for working on any of my tractors Me thinks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nigel 1,877 #17 Posted February 7, 2014 have any of your tractors been under water this year neil i know they were last year Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #18 Posted February 7, 2014 Just had a look at the weekend forecast. Not good. Especially for you lads down south. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pmackellow 2,738 #19 Posted February 7, 2014 Poxy weather when is it going to end ??? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anglo Traction 1,016 #20 Posted February 7, 2014 Poxy weather when is it going to end ??? Well, I wouldn't bother asking the people who said we were in for one of the coldest and snowiest winters for many years!. This rain, Westerly winds and high tides are due through here right up to a week today ( and probably includes following weekend as well), Not what anyone wants to hear, but what choice is there?. Until the Jetstream at least moves north over the US, it will continue. Just got to hang on in there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hangman 25 #21 Posted February 10, 2014 think its fair to say that most of us are optimists especially when we spend hours trying to convince our respective partners, family members and friends that the latest piece of rusty iron is indeed a thing of real wonderment, but there really are no positives from this flood water is dangerous stuff and for you guys affected by this my heart goes out to you. Stay safe and hopefully those who needed to wake up and smell the coffee will do so, so that incidents like this become a thing of the past to late for you at this time. To top it of i know that some of the worst affected areas have had insurance declined or heavily restricted which means that many will have to foot the repair bills themselves its so wrong that those responsible for maintaining our waterways have penny pinched for years and cost normal folk millions if there is ever an example of false economy !! and he swiftly steps of the soap box Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neil 524 #22 Posted February 10, 2014 We took a trip onto the Somerset Levels to lend a helping hand to those that needed it but found there wasnt much that could be done apart from barrow stone to make the bank of thye river parrett higher to prevent flooding into houses. Here are a few pictures that shows the full scale of the flooding & also showing the BBc & Sky news reporters that were covering the tragic story . In one of the pictures show a resident just rescued with a few belongings & her pet West higland terrior The other west highland terrior is mine 1 nylyon reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pmackellow 2,738 #23 Posted February 10, 2014 Thats horrendous Neil, hope you and your family are ok Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
neil 524 #24 Posted February 10, 2014 Thanx for asking Paul , my family are ok , thats them in the bottom picture looking over the Levels . Thview from the top of the hill shows only half of the flooding & in most areas it is around waist deep , i was good to see the Ryal Marines helping out , sadly there are people still out in the middle of the floods looking after animals etc . while we were there the royal marines rescued a family & 3 dogs 4 cats 1 Lauber1 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TITCH 84 #25 Posted February 10, 2014 I'm simply at a loss for words Neil, I so, so sympathise with you all down there, when it was a situation that could have been dealt with to prevent this years ago... no doubt now of course, action will be taken asap. Hope you can all be as safe as possible, Titch Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
