Page 8 - link magazine

8 The Link Magazine • August 2006 Fr aassit` ' w ale @ www.swindonlink.com
Calls for solution to Westlea wet spot
Houses in Benwell Close were flooded for the second time in less than two years in early July when drains backed up. Quick work by
firefighters from as far away as Marlborough prevented homes in Moresby Close on the other side of Westlea Drive again being inundated.
Now residents want the Envi- Neighbour Isobel Roberts went down then was up again at A spokesman for the Environ-
ronment Agency to come up with agreed that the fire crews had done Sam. "The council said the Envi- ment Agency said, "the flooding
answers to the problems. a fantastic job. ronment Agency was responsible, was the result of very heavy rain-
At the September 2004 West Closeby in Benwell Close Eileen but they said they couldn't do any- fall over a short period, which left
Swindon Forum, Swindon Coun- Webster and her partner Doran thing until the water went down. rivers, streams and drains unable
cil engineers explained that the Patterson were not so lucky. She The firemen from Marlbor-ough to cope with the volume. Swindon
storm on 12 August 2004 was the said the stream rose at 2.45am and were very helpful when they ar- is a large town and there are places
worst for 32 years. Six houses in rived to pump out the house; it in which we still need to gather
Moresby Close and three in was three inches up the wall and more information before we can
Benwell Close - closest to Westlea the carpets are ruined. assess the level of risk for that area.
brook - were flooded. "I've lived here for 18 years and Then we can decide how and if we
On 6 July this year 44mm of rain there were never problems until can reduce flood risk.
fell in five hours on parched land the 2004 flood. Because of it we "Recent restoration work on the
and the brook filled up in minutes. couldn't get insurance so we'll River Ray has created more flood
Thanks to the vigilance of Moresby have to replace the carpets our- storage area than existed before."
Close residentJoy Jansen, firefight- selves." He added that the Agency will
ers from Westlea station turned A Swindon Council spokesman be carrying out maintenance and
out to pump water out of garages said that the Environment Agency working with the council to iden-
before it entered houses. had taken over Westlea brook in tify more purpose-built flood stor-
Joy said, "I get nervous when- 2005, but added that after the prob- age areas to hold excess water.
ever it rains heavily even though lems in 2004 the
the council said these events hap- council cleared ' "y
pen rarely. We've now had floods . away vegetation
twice in 23 months. The sewers i . from the stream
backed up again and the firemen and also widened
had to pump raw sewage directly s ^' it in one place as
into the brook to stop it coming i r agreed at the fo-
into
into houses. rum meeting.
"Swindon Council, Thames Wa-
ter and the Environment Agency `'
and
Andrea, Carla
have to come up with answers to Nathan Hu^nh had
prevent this happening a ain. " to find another way
pp
g g
P
Eileen Webster and Doran Patterson to Westlea Primary/
contemplating the clean up to be done .- on 6 Jnht H. .WEBB
IA J & SON

YOUR LOCAL TIMBER MERCHANT
• DECKING
• Railway sleepers
• Vast range of timber from battens to purlins -
kiln dried and graded, treated or untreated
• Unique larchlap and trellis panels - pressure
treated for longer life
• Materials for rose arches, pergolas etc
• Wide selection of timber gates
# I
• Closeboard fencing
• Round, half round and square post & rail fencing
fantastic fabrics • All grades and thickness of plywood, MDF etc
• Shiplap and featheredge cladding
available by the metre
• The list is endless .. .
10%OFF ALL FABRICS NORMAL SELLING PRICE
ON PRODUCTION OF THIS ADVERT • EXCLUDING ANY SPECIAL OFFERS
H.J.WEBB & SON, Plywood,Timber & Fencing
Pear Tree Farm, Great Coxwell
01367 240173 or 07778 832335

email: jezl freenet.co.uk www.webbswood.co.uk
OPENING HOURS: Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm; Sat: 8am-I2noon