Croydon Council has called in the Army to help with the week-long battle against flood water in Purley and Kenley, after the borough ran out of sandbags, having claimed to have distributed 10,000 to properties in high-risk areas.

Croydon Council says it has run out of sand bags after having distributed 10,000 in the past week

In common with areas along the Thames, where concerns are mounting about raw sewage being discharged into flood water, the council has requested that Thames Water investigates reports of waste being found in parks and gardens in Kenley.

The council’s appeal to the military is reported in an emailed situation report distributed just after 6pm tonight by Hayley Lewis, the “head of customer communications and engagement”, to councillors, just the second of the week.

But the sitreps can’t be compared, in clichéd fashion, to London buses, waiting for ages and then two come along… because on Godstone Road, there are no buses whatsoever.

Tesco at Purley has provided car parking for those residents whose vehicles have been displaced by the flooding

Route 412 is starting and terminating at Purley Station, unable to serve Brighton Road, Purley Road and Godstone Road, while Route 407 is on diversion, unable to serve Godstone Road between Purley Cross and Whyteleafe Roundabout. The 434 is unable to serve Purley Road, Foxley Hill Road and Higher Drive.

Lewis wrote tonight to senior council officials and councillors, saying:

• We’re expecting an exceptionally high level of rainfall in the next 72hrs – up to 16mm today and another 20mm over the weekend. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) are [sic] pumping more water into the Purley Cross subway this evening. We hope this will ease an already exceptionally pressurised system.
• Approximately 10,000 sandbags have been distributed to properties in high risk areas but demand continues to outweigh supply. Another large supply of sandbags has arrived and we have requested the army assist in filling the sandbags at the depot. They will be on site this evening.
• We continue to deal with the flooding in Dale Road. The issue here is that the Bourne [sic] itself is surcharging, causing a significant amount of flooding. We’re investigating whether this is down to the sheer volume of water or whether it is down to a blockage somewhere in the system.
• At today’s gold meeting [Gold Command], concerns were raised about sewage lying around on the playing fields next to Bourne Park Close. We asked Thames Water to deal with this, and also put out some signs advising the public to avoid the park area.
• Additional Google maps have been created – one which shows road closures and one which shows where parking enforcement is currently suspended. These can be accessed via the dedicated section of the website – www.croydon.gov.uk/advice/emergencies/floods We also signpost to the TfL updates.

• 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.

• Councils warn flood householders to beware bogus official
•  Dale Road flood victims evacuated to stay at council HQ
• Kenley-on-Thames in pictures: how the floods hit Purley

Coming to Croydon

• 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

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