Finally, Croydon Council has found a suitable purpose for Fisher’s Folly: it is being used as emergency accommodation for people displaced from their homes in Purley by the floods.
And according to one local resident on Dale Road, this afternoon the occupants of two more blocks of flats have been asked if they want to be evacuated from their homes.
The Red Cross, the emergency charity more usually associated with war zones and natural disasters in far away lands, is supervising the emergency accommodation in the centre of Croydon, as part of the planning of the borough’s “Gold Command” committee.
Some council workers had expressed concern that the displaced residents were being moved into a building that had only recently had problems with a leaking roof.
The temporary accommodation is located in the building’s public meeting space. The emergency has forced one public meeting planned for tonight to be moved elsewhere in the grand glass palace.
The council described the intervention as “a small-scale evacuation which went ahead very smoothly thanks to the help of the Fire Brigade and the Red Cross. Our staff have been working around the clock to provide information and assistance to anyone who needs it.”
According to a local resident in Dale Road, though, the occupants of two of the blocks of flats in the road have also been offered to be evacuated to emergency occupation. This may suggest that the emergency services are unable to stem the water overflowing from the Caterham Bourne.
There are reports that on the other side of the Godstone Road, the lower parts of roads on and around Mitchley Hill have had to be closed due to flooding, while low-lying sections of Higher Drive are also under water.
Dale Road appears to be the latest crisis point. As storm-force winds and heavy rain lashed the emergency services through today, our eye witness told Inside Croydon that sand bags had been placed across the car parks of Lister Court and Liberty Court, as water was creeping up Dale Road.
“The council’s putting huge sandbags in place to create barrier on lower half of the road,” the resident said. “But it’s taken over three hours to do 15 metres,” the eye witness said.
- To report rising groundwater levels or flooding, residents are asked to call the Environment Agency Incident Hotline on 0800 80 70 60. You can also sign up to the free groundwater Flood Alert/Warning service by calling Floodline on 0845 988 1188.
- Boris visits Kenley-on-Thames as Greens call for flood action
- Going Underground: Purley underpass used as flood overflow
- Kenley-on-Thames in pictures: how the floods hit Purley
Coming to Croydon
- Purley Swimathon: Feb 13
- Croydon Arts Network meeting, Feb 15
- Chinese New Year children’s event, Upper Norwood Library, Feb 18
- This War! St Gertrude’s Theatre group, Feb 19-22
- Welsh myths children’s event, Upper Norwood Library, Feb 20
- Norwood Society talk, Upper Norwood Library, Feb 20
- Mr Pooter comes to Croydon, Feb 20-22
- Warm and Well event, Upper Norwood Library, Feb 22
- Stop the Incinerator fund-raiser, Feb 24
- Fairtrade Film night, Antenna Cafe, Haynes Lane, Feb 27
- Fairtrade event, Upper Norwood Library, Mar 1
- Coulsdon and Purley Debating Society, Mar 3
- Patchwork and quilting workshop, Upper Norwood Library, Mar 3
- Fairtrade stall at Food Market, Haynes Lane, Mar 8
- Upper Norwood Library Book Club, Mar 15
- Norwood Society talk, Upper Norwood Library, Mar 20
- Croydon Half-marathon, Mar 30
If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, a residents’ or business association or local event, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com