Bewdley flooding: River levels dropping but 'danger to life' warning continues
The water levels are falling but a 'danger to life' warning remains in place in Bewdley which has been hit by serious flooding for the third year in a row.
Rescue teams have been out checking on riverside areas in the town where the River Severn burst its banks after three successive storms.
Water levels peaked at 5.34 metres on Wednesday – 30 centimetres below the record registered in November 2000 – after dozens of people were evacuated.
Temporary flood defences installed by the Environment Agency were breached at Beales Corner on Tuesday leading to water entering homes and submerging streets, while nearby Stourport-on-Severn has also been badly hit.
The water is now receding, and was sitting at around 4.98m on Thursday morning, but still remains high enough to pose serious problems and residents have been warned to stay vigilant.
A severe flood warning is still in place for the area meaning there is still a danger to life for residents but it is hoped the worst is now over.
Jo Bloom, who who lives on the Queensway in Bewdley and heads up the Bewdley Flood Group, said: "The water is still in some homes and everyone is still on 24-hour pump duty and taking it in turns.
"It's peaked at five metres which is still a mass of water, so we're not in the clear yet. We're just waiting for it to go down and then we start the hard work."
Miss Bloom said permanent barriers weren't the answer to the flooding issues in the town, faced by residents of Beales Corner, as she called for something to be down further up-stream – preventing the river levels from increasing so much.
Upstream in Ironbridge, the 'danger to life' warning has now been removed but many areas remain under water up and down the river. In Bridgnorth the river also peaked on Wednesday, while in Shrewsbury the water has dropped enough for key roads to reopen.
Environment Agency spokesman Nick Green said teams would continue to keep a "close eye" on the situation and the severe flood warning for Bewdley would remain in place until water levels drop further.
The last week has seen storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin cause problems across the country and about 400 properties have been flooded.
On Thursday ,the Environment Agency had 51 flood warnings and 42 flood alerts in place.
A statement on the Government flood warning service: "It is strongly recommended that residents evacuate from behind the defences due to the risk and take action to implement your emergency flood plan as severe flooding to homes and main roads is expected to continue.
"The level at Bewdley gauge peaked at 5.34m on Wednesday morning. The level is now falling but remains high. We are working closely with emergency services."
Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier described the situation in the town as heartbreaking but stressed installing flood defences must not be rushed.
He said: "I want the Environment Agency to get it right first time, and putting them under pressure, and putting speed over durability, is not the way to do it.
"We have to let them have the time and space to do what they need to do. We're going to get this right first time and end people's misery."
