Residents refuse to be evacuated

Part of the road surface in Severnside North fell away in three places on Saturday, while a section of the quayside wall had also collapsed, apparently into the river.

Surveyors and engineers from the county and district councils went to the scene, and following examination of the site, it was revealed there had been localised subsidence of the road due to the washing out of the sand under the surface.

But people living in Severnside North said they believed they were in no danger.

"The police wanted us to get out but we wouldn't," said Bewdley town councillor Louise Edginton, who lives in the street.

"Our houses have stood here for 400 years, since before the quay was built up - they're not held up by the quay wall, so we knew the houses were safe."

Mrs Edginton said most residents were already absent, having moved because of the flooding.

"The bottoms of the houses are uninhabitable anyway," she said.

Worcestershire County Council head of Highways, Jeff Romanis, said initially, it was seen as a very dangerous situation.

"Because we know a sewer runs right though the quay from end-to-end, potentially it was a very dangerous incident," said Mr Romanis.

"We did some checks on the site and took advice from the people who live there - they felt safer than we did initially.

"It left us feeling nervous on account of the line of weakness through the quay but when we'd done a bit of an investigation and taken stock we found it wasn't as bad as our first impressions. However, we are keeping a very close eye on it."

Mr Romanis said there would be substantial work to be carried out but water levels needed to recede first.

"We'll certainly have some work to do but potentially that could be months away depending how quickly the river goes down," he said.

Barriers were erected preventing access to both pedestrians and vehicles and a police presence was being maintained over the weekend for safety reasons.

THE Worcestershire branch of Lions International has set up an ''emergency fund'' of £6,900 for people who have lost personal belongings in the floods.

The money, which comes from the Lions Club International Foundation in Illinois, USA, is intended to help people with their short-term needs.

"It is intended to offer immediate help for people in distress from the floods," said Lions zone chairman Graham Taylor.

Mr Taylor said the fund would cover basic needs such as clothes, bedding, pots, pans and food.

Lions International is a world-wide group of around 1.4 million businessmen, who assist the community in emergency cases. "We help people all over the world," said Mr Taylor.

Anyone who wants further information on the flood fund should contact Mr Taylor on 01299 826256.

Lunch date

WET weather failed to put a dampener on a charity lunch in Kidderminster which raised hundreds of pounds for cancer research.

More than 60 people who attended the event organised by the Wyre Forest branch of the Cancer Research Campaign at the town's Gainsborough House Hotel earlier this month raised a total of £435.

FLOODING and flu in Worcestershire have affected blood donor sessions leaving stocks depleted.

The National Blood Service is appealing for donors to make every effort to attend sessions.

Throughout the country attendance is down by an average of 10 per cent.

"This is usually a busy time of year for collecting blood but many of our donors are coming down with coughs and colds and there is the additional factor of bad weather affecting travelling for donors attending sessions," said Jim Moir from the NBS.

"It would be much appreciated if donors, especially those who have not been able to attend in the last six months, could do all they can in order to support local hospitals."

There are currently three days of blood in stock.

"Ideally we would like to hold five days especially in the run-up to Christmas," he added.

"That is why it is vitally important for donors who have received an invitation - and who are in good health - to make every effort to attend."

Sessions coming up in the county include:

6 Worcester's Methodist Hall, Pump Street, on Tuesday from 12.30pm-7pm.

6 In Kidderminster donors should turn out on Friday, November 17, at Trinity Methodist Church, Churchfields, 1pm-7pm.

6 On Sunday, November 19, a donor session is lined up for Worcester TA Centre, Dancox House, Silver Street, 9am-3.30pm.

Closures

POLICE would not confirm which roads were still closed today due to the effects of surface water, but the Evening News understands that the following roads remain closed: Waverley Street and Diglis Lane in Worcester, Church Lane, Kempsey, the B4211 Hanley Road and the A4104 Ryall Road, both in Upton-upon-Severn.

RESIDENTS in Waverley Street are still coming to terms with the mass of sewage that has invaded their homes.

The road is still impassable to traffic due to the effects of a water pipe overflowing.

Just one pipe carries rainwater and sewage from a third of the city.

"The water is going down slowly but surely," said resident Mary Dhonau.

"There are still four inches of water in my house and the smell is appalling.

"Severn Trent have been here all weekend vacuuming up the raw sewage but we're still flooded.

"The only good thing to come out of this is that I've got to know all of my neighbours."

The streets' residents have all joined together to campaign for investment in Worcester's drains following the recent flooding chaos.

FLOOD waters are continuing to cause problems for Kempsey residents whose water supply was cut by a burst main.

Engineers have been unable to repair the fault because it has lain under several feet of floodwater for more than a week.

It has left around 40 homeowners around Lyfts Lane and Church Street reliant on bowsers stationed in the village.

Some of the residents had already been evacuated due to flooding from the nearby River Severn.

Spokesman Steve Hodgson said engineers were due to begin making preparations to repair the fault today. This would involve putting makeshift hydrants in place to carry out a major disinfecting programme before restoring the supply.

"We are going to have to wait for the water to subside before we can get to the fault," said Mr Hodgson.

"At the moment, it is lying under water. Our staff have been going out to the site twice a day to check on the situation and we obviously want to repair the fault as soon as we can."

The water main, in Lyfts Lane, burst on Thursday, November 2.