The worst may be over, but works continue to mop-up after the floods, and to try to reduce the threat of more flooding in the valleys to the south of Croydon.
With the ground saturated from the heavy winter rains, soldiers and engineers construct a temporary dam on the downs at Woldingham to back-up some of the water on the Caterham Bourne
Army engineers were in action again yesterday, constructing a temporary dam in Woldingham near the source of the Caterham Bourne to hold back the water from the past months’ heavy rains and delay its flow downstream towards Whyteleafe, Kenley and Purley – the sort of action which some Surrey residents had been suggesting at the start of January when water levels of the bourne were first observed to be rising rapidly.
Some homes in Coulsdon have had their gardens flooded, as the Coulsdon Bourne – carrying waters running off Farthing Downs, near Coulsdon South Station – has burst its banks.
The A22 remains closed, with work going on overnight between the junctions of Hayes Lane and Little Roke Road – some of it including boxing in the lengthy pipes that had been pumping flood water away from the Kenley water treatment works. The council and Transport for London are looking at the possibility of re-opening the Godstone Road from Hayes Lane to St James Road before Monday morning’s rush-hour.
Croydon Council has not updated its flooding emergency page on its website since Friday. A flood advice centre has been set up by the council and other agencies to help those affected by or worried about flooding. Based at the Safer Neighbourhood Team hub at 9-11 Whytecliffe Road, it is open 10am to 4pm on Monday and Wednesday, and 10am to 2pm on Saturday, and will operate until March 5.
On Monday, the advice centre will be attended by an advisor from Thames Water (noon to 4pm).
Who to call if you are experiencing problems with water or sewage as a result of flooding
- Environment Agency Floodline – 0345 988 1188
- Croydon Council for highways management such as blocked gullies – 020 8726 6000 option 1
- Thames Water is responsible for sewage – 0845 9200 800
- Sutton and East Surrey Water is responsible for the provision of fresh drinking water – 24hr Emergency Line – 01737 772000
- Thames Water’s dismal record and their 20% water rate hike
- Assembly member Jones critical of ‘crass stupidity” of national flood plans
- How pipes and tunnels caused our ‘River of Woe’ to flood
- Kenley-on-Thames in pictures: how the floods hit Purley
Coming to Croydon
- 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
- South Norwood Lakes Playground group workshop, Mar 25
- Croydon Half-marathon, Mar 30
- Crystal Palace Overground Festival, June 26-29
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