Flooding relief

9:30am Monday 11th March 2013 in Letters

WHAT a relief it was to read David English’s letter (Ledbury Reporter, February) and to realise that I hadn’t been hallucinating when I drove down the Hanley Road towards Upton on January 2 and was confronted by a large expanse of water and a Road Closed sign.

My husband and I were travelling from Colwall to Pershore to meetfamily and friends for lunch.

We usually drive down the Hanley Road to Upton, over the bridge, across the Worcester/Tewkesbury road and on to Pershore – not so this time.

We had heard that Upton now had effective flood defences, indeed the Environment Secretary was in Upton on that very day admiring the defences.

There were notices saying that shops and businesses in Upton were open, and I’ve no doubt they were, but how did one get to them when all the roads on the Malvern side of Upton were flooded? We arrived in Pershore two hours late, having eventually crossed the river at Worcester. That was a mere inconvenience for us but while I appreciate that many Upton inhabitants are thankful not to be flooded on a regular basis. It seems obvious to me, and according to Mr English, many locals too, that if you block off the river in one place it will flood elsewhere.

And at the moment the ‘elsewhere’ are the roads into Upton.

SHIRLEY STEARN

Colwall

Comments(15)

js says...
12:07pm Wed 13 Mar 13

Why on earth go to Worcester to cross the river? Back to Hanley Castle, Hanley Swan, Welland, Upton upon Severn.

There were plenty of warnings in newspapers, radio, TV, local website to say the road was closed.

Hanley Road has always flooded, and still does. The flood defences protect properties along the riverside and in New Street.

Report this post »

Karl Hunderson says...
7:06pm Wed 13 Mar 13

js wrote:
Why on earth go to Worcester to cross the river? Back to Hanley Castle, Hanley Swan, Welland, Upton upon Severn.

There were plenty of warnings in newspapers, radio, TV, local website to say the road was closed.

Hanley Road has always flooded, and still does. The flood defences protect properties along the riverside and in New Street.
If Shirley Stearn had gone the most direct route from Colwall to Pershore she would have come into Upton on the A4104 from Welland and left by the A4104 without any problem. She shouldn't try to blame others for her and her husband's poor navigational skills.

Report this post »

TheRealFacts says...
1:25pm Thu 14 Mar 13

I do agree that the flood defenses have been implemented to protect the town firstly, however - the upton bridge is a main route accross the river for people from malvern and that makes the hanley road extremely important!

I agree that the road has always flooded, but since the new flood defences, it has flooded a lot faster, and remained closed for longer!

Report this post »

Hack says...
6:28pm Thu 14 Mar 13

TheRealFacts wrote:
I do agree that the flood defenses have been implemented to protect the town firstly, however - the upton bridge is a main route accross the river for people from malvern and that makes the hanley road extremely important!

I agree that the road has always flooded, but since the new flood defences, it has flooded a lot faster, and remained closed for longer!
Your second statement is rubbish.There were four heavy floods in 2012. The river rose as normal, no-one has lowered the bank-side to make the road 'flood faster'.That it remained closed 'longer' is a subjective assessment.
Agree with other comments. Flooding was well known. Upton is a flood risk. Someone didn't check their route and has no idea of alternative routes and wants to lay blame. DOH!

Report this post »

TheRealFacts says...
6:37pm Thu 14 Mar 13

Hack wrote:
TheRealFacts wrote:
I do agree that the flood defenses have been implemented to protect the town firstly, however - the upton bridge is a main route accross the river for people from malvern and that makes the hanley road extremely important!

I agree that the road has always flooded, but since the new flood defences, it has flooded a lot faster, and remained closed for longer!
Your second statement is rubbish.There were four heavy floods in 2012. The river rose as normal, no-one has lowered the bank-side to make the road 'flood faster'.That it remained closed 'longer' is a subjective assessment.
Agree with other comments. Flooding was well known. Upton is a flood risk. Someone didn't check their route and has no idea of alternative routes and wants to lay blame. DOH!
Are you unaware of the concept of a funnel? If you stop water flowing somewhere, it can back up and flow elsewhere??? Pretty simple concept

Report this post »

Hack says...
8:45am Fri 15 Mar 13

There is no funnel at Upton. Hanley Road has always flooded back to 2007 and 2000, QED.

Report this post »

TheRealFacts says...
8:56am Fri 15 Mar 13

Hack wrote:
There is no funnel at Upton. Hanley Road has always flooded back to 2007 and 2000, QED.
I think you're missin lg the point - I know it has always flooded - I said that now it floods faster! And yes there is a funnel, I'm not sure how anybody couldn't see that??

Report this post »

Hack says...
10:44am Fri 15 Mar 13

Demonstrate your argument. Then we can ask the EA for its view.

Report this post »

TheRealFacts says...
10:54am Fri 15 Mar 13

Think about when you pour windscreen wash into your car... If you pour too much in at once, it will overflow at the top even of there is space at the bottom - because it can't go anywhere!

If the windscreen wash tank neck was wider (ie no wall on the side of the river) you would be able to pour more in at a time and the water would have somewhere to go - therefore not overflowing!!!

Report this post »

Hack says...
3:18pm Fri 15 Mar 13

We would agree, I trust, that the quantities of water flowing down the Severn in spate are very large. The flood wall does impact on the flow, but only in terms of it speeds up the flow; worst scenario it can raise levels directly opposite. It is the volume of flow that affects Hanley Road as to whether it floods slowly or quickly. Also the area taken up by the new defences is fairly small in relation to the wider flood plain, so there is still plenty of scope for dispersal. I feel we shall need to agree to differ.

Report this post »

TheRealFacts says...
7:00pm Fri 15 Mar 13

I was talking about volume not speed. - did you not read my comment at all??

Report this post »

Hack says...
7:36pm Fri 15 Mar 13

Yes, read your post and I referenced volume and speed as a response to your funnel theory, which doesn't hold water.

Report this post »

TheRealFacts says...
8:00pm Fri 15 Mar 13

I think you need to ask somebody else to help you figure this one out, perhaps try and make yourself a model?? Im astounded by the fact that you can't see what happens though

Report this post »

Hack says...
8:05pm Fri 15 Mar 13

Because it doesn't happen. End of posts.

Report this post »

sarah and her chickens says...
9:19pm Sun 17 Mar 13

Great comments !! made my day thanks Hack and Therealfacts.
Might go make a model just to see.....

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree