Flood defences (From Malvern Gazette)

Flood defences

8:00am Tuesday 19th February 2013 in Letters

WITH reference to David English’s letter regarding the new Flood Defences in Upton.

The defences were not to improve the insurance situation for properties but to stop them being flooded.

The suggestion the gates leak and require the pumps is misleading.

There is a very little seepage under the gates.

The plan was always to have pumps in place to clear the underground water.

Upton is built on sand and gravel and basements would still be flooded if the pumps were not in place. Hanley Road has always flooded.

The problem with extra flood water at present is due to the land being saturated by the months of rain we have suffered.

In no way has the Environment Agency misled the town.

Although we live eightand- a-half miles out of Upton, we have our business by the river in Waterside.

We have been flooded six times in twelve-and-a-half years.

Having a permanent flood defence has meant we have been able to continue to operate and people who attend our art classes have been able to come.

Many of them, who are not local, spend money in the town while they are here.

The removal of the defences would return the town to the old days when there was a lot more disruption.

GERALD SAVINE Upton