Flooding causes road closures

3:00pm Friday 5th September 2008

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DRIVERS are being warned about road closures in Herefordshire due to flooding.

Lower Bullingham Lane in Hereford has been closed, and the council’s highways department has also received reports of lots of surface water on its roads.

The A466 between Llancloudy and Wormelow Tump is passable with care but the A465 at Stoke Lacy is under two-and-a-half feet of water and is only passable with off road vehicles.

A stretch of road about two miles from St Weonards to Hereford is passable with care.

Motorists are now being told to take extra care during the heavy downpours that are expected to continue throughout today and into tomorrow.

Herefordshire Council’s acting head of highways Richard Ball said: “Drivers need to be aware there may be hidden dangers lurking under surface water and I would urge them to reduce their speed and drive according to the conditions.

“People should allow extra time for their journeys and drive sensibly.”

Anybody aware of a flooded road is being asked to call the council on 01432 260000.

In the meantime, drivers are being given these pieces of advice:

• Listen to the local and national radio for travel information;
• Tell someone at your destination what time you expect to arrive;
• Remember that in wet weather stopping distances are at least double those required for stopping on dry roads;
• Keep well back from the vehicle in front, so you have the time and distance to break safely;
• If steering becomes unresponsive it probably means the water is preventing the tyres from gripping the road, ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually;
• Remember the rain and spray from vehicles makes it difficult to see and be seen so adjust your speed and drive more slowly and use your headlights;
• Do not enter floodwater as there is no way of telling how deep it may be. This applies if you are on foot as well as in a vehicle. Manhole covers may have been loosened or removed so there could be extremely dangerous hidden hazards in floodwater;
• Please respect road closure signs - they are there for your safety and mean the road is impassable;
• Avoid any non essential journeys.

Click here for the Environment Agency's latest flood warnings for the Midlands.
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