The warning came after a traumatic day for thousands across the country, with residents in the southern cities of Henley-on-Thames and Marlborough joining dozens across the Midlands and the south-west in the evacuation.
The famous Pulteney Dam on the River Avon in Bath was also completely submerged, while Barrow-upon-Sur in Leicestershire, a narrow boat on the River Soar, was wedged across the arches of a bridge after being swept onto its side.
Siobhan Connor, a public relations consultant, said her home in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, was contaminated with raw sewage after it flooded for the third time in a year and the 20th time since 1997. “We can't go on like this.”
The medieval town of Tewkesbury was surrounded by water all year round.credit: GT
In Tewkesbury, homeowners of 11 Grade II listed townhouses on Abbey Terrace complained that the pandemic appeared to prevent work that could have prevented the flooding.
They included Denise Clark, 73, and her husband Jeffrey, 83, who had to evacuate their home of 44 years when water entered the property for the first time since 2007.
“It came faster than we thought,” she said. “The flood gates were working fine but then they came out the back and the floor.”
A swan paddles in front of a submerged car in Wallingford.credit: GT
“They are,” Clark added [Environment Agency] A company was supposed to be acquired to reinforce flood barriers. They should have had money set aside for this two and a half years ago.
In the same town, John Badham, a 75-year-old retired school principal who suffers from mobility problems, was forced to flee his home with his wife, who is recovering from cancer surgery.
“We are frustrated by the Environment Agency and the local authority,” he said.
“Seven years ago, the local council told us that money had been made available to produce additional defences. Unfortunately this appears to have disappeared during Covid and the defenses have never materialised.
A major accident has been announced in Nottinghamshire in central England. Water crept into Newark-on-Trent.credit: GT
Lawrence Robertson, the Conservative MP for Tewkesbury, said: “I don't want to be critical of the Environment Agency, but it's certainly not a big target in my constituency. We don't have all the numbers we need to help, and I hope for a better response in the future.” The sad thing about life is that it always takes an accident to motivate people to act.
In Nottinghamshire, a local politician described the situation as “pure hell”.
Councilor Paul Taylor said medicines were being urgently sent to residents in isolated villages, some of whom were flooded for the third time in as many months.
download
“I think this is one of the worst situations we have seen,” he said, adding: “People are saying enough is enough, that they want to see some action.”
In response to Tewkesbury's complaints, a spokesperson for the agency said: “We know the devastation floods can cause and our priority is to protect communities from the impact of floods as much as possible.
“We are working with the community in Tewkesbury to help residents plan for floods and make the local environment more resilient to floods.
“This includes undertaking natural flood management works to create more space and facilitate water flow.”
The Telegraph, London
Get a direct note from our foreign correspondents on what's making headlines around the world. Subscribe to the weekly What in the World newsletter here.
