EHDC is working with HCC, the Environment Agency and other organisations, many voluntary, to help protect private properties from flooding. This includes localised flash points such as Ditcham, East Meon, Liphook and Liss. Closer to home EHDC are working at Chalton, Finchdean and Rowlands Castle where the rising groundwater remains a major threat and some properties have had to be evacuated.
Water has been building up behind stone and sandbag flood defenses in the Stanstead estate to hold back flood water and protect properties. Because of the strong links and shared management team with Havant Borough Council, we have agreements in place to bring operations teams in from each others authorities to support local emergencies, and this is working well. (Photo Bob Coleman and Jude Simpson from EHDC Senior Management team getting their hands dirty)
Further across Hampshire, military support has been brought in to the Test Valley, Winchester, Basingstoke and evacuations are now anticipated in areas in the New Forest. George Hollingbery has been raising flooding issues at Parliament, focusing on Hambledon which has not been flooded for over 40 days and nights. Click here to see the commons transcript.
In the last few days requests for sandbags have increased tenfold and these will be provided based on an assessment of need but are limited to occasions where properties are at risk of flooding.
In the meantime, HCC promise to jet out the drains on Downwood Way that have resulted in flooding of the road for the last 6 weeks. While this has not affected properties, it has damaged the engines on several cars and the amount of car parts and bits of bodywork that have built up on the verge are a sign this is long overdue. Thank you to Cllr Marge Harvey for chasing this again for us, and it should take place week commencing the 17th February.
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