Judy is home at last, two years after Upton's flood nightmare (From Worcester News)

Judy is home at last, two years after Upton's flood nightmare

7:10pm Tuesday 2nd June 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

A WOMAN is preparing to return home after living in a caravan for almost two years following the devastating 2007 summer floods.

Judy Gibson has started moving dozens of boxes containing her possessions back into her rebuilt cottage in Ferry Lane, Uckinghall, near Upton-upon-Severn.

The cottage was virtually destroyed after water rose to a depth of four-and-a-half feet during the unprecedented floods two summers ago.

Following the floods wooden beams in the 16th century property crumbled, and the rear wall of the cottage almost collapsed. A set of stairs had to be taken down, and the ceiling and floor had to be replaced.

“There was virtually nothing left of the original house at one point,” said Mrs Gibson.

“It was basically just a shell.”

Having lived in a small touring caravan positioned opposite the cottage since August 2007 she is now looking forward to the comforts of home.

“I have developed something of a fondness for the simplicity of living in the caravan but it will be good to be back at home,” she said.

“I have been unpacking all my boxes and looking at things that I have not seen for two years.”

The cottage has been rebuilt so as to safeguard it as far as possible against future flooding events, at a considerable cost.

The bathroom has been moved upstairs and central heating and electricity can be operated independently for the upstairs and downstairs of the house. The kitchen is also now completely waterproof.

However Mrs Gibson hopes that the flood-resistance of the property will not be put to the test again, with funding in place for defences in Uckinghall.

“Hopefully we will get the defences sooner rather than later,” she said.

“We have the money but it is the ongoing planning and discussions with landowners that take time.”

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)