Pumps put in to prevent village getting flooded again (From Worcester News)
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Pumps put in to prevent village getting flooded again
7:40pm Friday 20th July 2012 in News
By Sarah Davies
FLOODING: Tnew pumps installed last week that are designed to prevent a repeat of 2007's flooding.
TWO pumps that form a crucial part of a village’s flood alleviation scheme have been installed.
The equipment, which will help protect Kempsey, near Worcester, from future flooding as part of a wider project, was due to be fitted in early July.
As previously reported by your Worcester News , the work was delayed until the end of last week.
A spokesperson from the Environment Agency said: “The pumps have now been modified and installed. The recent very wet weather has delayed things slightly. To complete the installation of the pumps so that they are fully operational, we need to wait until water levels in the Hatfield Brook and River Severn drop back to normal.
“We are able to operate the pumps manually if we need to in the interim. We also have teams checking on local water levels and people on standby to operate the pumps should the need occur. We are keeping the community up to date with progress.
“Unfortunately, while installing the pumps first time around the manufacturer noticed a manufacturing problem. We altered the size of the casing to the pumps and canister tubes [that the pipe fits into] so that they were able to drop into position correctly.”
In summer 2007, 180 homes were flooded – about a tenth of the village – and the main A38 road became impassable.
Cathy Garner, whose father Rex Oram spent 18 years trying to persuade the EA to improved flood defences, said: “It’s amazing what we have achieved as a community. With a little inspiration and a lot of energy, we have worked together as neighbours and become friends. Dad always believed it was possible to make the village free of flooding, and all those years of letter-writing have finally paid off. We are so grateful to everyone who has worked to make this happen.”
The completion of the flood scheme will be marked from 1.15pm on Saturday, July 28, with an opening ceremony and community picnic at the bund site in Church Meadows.
Chairman of Kempsey Parish Council Bob Bowley said: “It’s a very welcome thing. Hopefully flooding will now become something of the past.”
