PM's trip is hijacked by hospital protesters

Hecklers shouted "save our hospital" at the Prime Minister, who witnessed first hand the devastation wrought by the swollen River Severn.

A large crowd gathered in the town centre's Load Street to greet Mr Blair who arrived by car with David King, regional director of the Environment Agency.

They had a 15-minute walkabout and witnessed the worst floods to hit the town since 1947.

He made his way to Thomas Telford bridge through a melee of photographers and residents, stopping to shake hands with various people.

As Mr Blair was viewing the floods from the bridge, a Save Kidderminster Hospital banner was unfurled nearby and sections of the crowd started chanting "save our hospital".

Bewdley resident, Paul Humphries, a senior lecturer in psychology at University College Worcester, registered his anger at the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital.

"Water comes and goes but when the hospital goes, it goes for ever," he shouted.

"I hope you don't fall into the water, Tony, because there's nowhere to go to. The A&E is shut."

Wyre Forest MP David Lock, who accompanied the PM, said it was "outrageous" that protesters had hijacked the visit at the expense of the flood victims' plight.

Severnside North resident, Mark Leadbetter, aged 35, shook hands and chatted with the Prime Minister just feet from the swirling water which had engulfed his nearby home.

"I think he was shocked by what he saw," said Mr Leadbetter.

"He was asking about defence barriers and was saying something had to be done about it.

"He also mentioned about insurance because they don't want to know us.

"I probably won't bother to even claim this time."

Roger Potter, from the Environment Agency, not only chatted with Mr Blair but lent him his wellingtons as well.

"He told us 'well done' and praised us for the work we have done," he said.

"I lent him my wellies but I haven't had them back yet."

John Gordon, chairman of Wyre Forest District Council, told Mr Blair that insurance companies were threatening to withdraw insurance claims from flood-prone areas.

"I believe this is a matter of huge concern if we are to have global warming," he said.

SUPERMARKET PLAN IS 'STUPID'

SAFEWAY'S application to build a supermarket at Hylton Road is "stupid" in light of this week's floods, a resident has claimed.

Pat Wood, who lives in Henwick Road, said she failed to see why the company wanted to build a store on the site of the former fruit farm, close to the railway viaduct.

"It's stupid, when Hylton Road is prone to flooding," she said. "And if global warming is happening, this is going to occur again and again."

Peter Yates, the principal planning officer, said his department had warned Safeway about the problems of flooding in Hylton Road as one of several objections to the scheme from residents and the Environment Agency.

"Like many developers they don't always believe us planners," said Mr Yates. "But perhaps this time they will."

Worcester City Council was awaiting revised plans, he added.

Mr Yates had "no idea" when the altered supermarket proposals would be ready to go before the planning sub-committee.

No one from Safeway's head office was available for comment.

DELUDE DAMPENS HIGH STREET TRADE

BUSINESSES in Worcester have been suffering knock-on effects from the flooding.

Firms based close to the River Severn have been flooded, and the effects of the deluge have been felt by city centre stores.

"There are a number of things that affect businesses in times of flooding," said Peter Morgan, of the Hereford and Worcester Chamber of Commerce.

"The first is that people can't get to work at all, or have difficulties with their journeys, and that affects staffing levels.

"Mothercare was just one of the shops that was shut yesterday."

Another problem, he said, was that High Street sales were hit because fewer people were able to reach the city centre.

"CrownGate car park was shut and there were restricted buses, so people who would normally go in to shop haven't been able to," said Mr Morgan.

"That is money that businesses won't be able to get back."

A spokesperson for Mothercare said they were "too busy" to comment today.

Today, at CrownGate it was expected to be business as usual, although the car park, bus station and loading bays are closed.

John Knowles, technical services manager at CrownGate, said more shop assistants were able to get into work.

Staffing levels were affected yesterday by the closure of the Severn Bridge, but the Territorial Army's shuttle service meant more workers were able to reach the city centre today.

High Street store Marks & Spencer said this was an ideal time to do Christmas shopping, as the shop was quiet.

"Trading was slow yesterday, but we have a full compliment of staff," said Rachael Bails, head of retail operations.

"We're offering wine-tasting and mulled wine to warm customers up.

"Our staff have been magnificent at getting into the store."

The Chamber of Commerce said many businesses had suffered because of floodwater

"A lot of the businesses close to the river have been flooded. There's Brown's Restaurant, The Rectifying House, Countrywide Stores, Sainsbury's Homebase, Mc-Donald's and the Severn View Hotel to name just a few," said Mr Morgan.

"They'll have to get people in to get the damp out, which will take a while and cost a lot of money in terms of repair and lost business."

SWAMPED BY RAW SEWAGE

A CONCERNED mother has demanded Severn Trent Water improve Worcester's drains after her autistic son's playroom was flooded with raw sewage.

Mary Dhonau says she fears for the safety of three-year-old Peter, who does not understand the water is dangerous and constantly tries to go into his flooded playroom in the basement.

The mother-of-five, who lives in Waverley Street, Diglis, said she spoke to Worcester City Council after the room started to flood at 4am on Monday.

When council workmen said it was not river water she spoke to Severn Trent, which said it could do nothing until the floods had subsided.

"The stench is horrendous," she said. "It sounds as it we have a water feature in the cellar as you can hear it pouring in. If it wasn't for the fact we have a pump working continually down there it would be a lot worse.

"The main problem is trying to explain to my autistic son he cannot go downstairs and play with his toys, which will have to undergo major washing when the water goes.

"Then there is the safety element for other children who see water in the road and want to go out and splash about in it, but it could make them very ill.

"When I told one group of children what they were playing in they soon got out."

The 39-year-old said people living in the road were convinced drains in the area were unable to cope, causing the floods to push sewage out of the drains and into the street.

"Severn Trent did some work on the drains some time ago to improve drainage but it seems to be worse now. People who have lived in the road through other floods say this always happens during floods and we want something done to stop it."

But Steve Hodgson, spokesman for Severn Trent Water, said the sewage problem was a symptom of the problem of flooding.

"It's not the symptom which needs to be treated, it's the problem," he said.

"The answer is to stop the flooding. When sewers are underwater sewage will be pushed out.

"Severn Trent has been giving out sandbags to people to help those affected."