Flood warning: the official Government website this evening
After one of the wettest Februarys on record, the Government has tonight issued a flood warning for low-lying areas across the whole of south-east London, from the M25 at Caterham, through Kenley, Purley, South Croydon, Carshalton Beeches, all the way to the River Thames at Tower Bridge.
Several of the rivers and bournes which flooded so badly in 2014 – Caterham Bourne, Coulsdon Bourne and the River Wandle – are included in the warning.
The government website issued its warning just after 5pm.
“Groundwater levels in East Surrey and South London have been rising throughout the winter following higher than average rainfall.
“Levels continued to increase through most of February and early March in response to heavy rainfall and storm events.
“The Caterham Bourne between Woldingham and Purley is close to flowing. Properties with deep basements and low lying land in and around Purley and the Caterham Bourne may experience flooding.
Wash out: the flood warnings cover most of south London
“Riparian owners are reminded to keep clear the sections of river that flow through their land. Flooding of properties, gardens and low lying land elsewhere is not expected at this point in time.
“The Environment Agency is monitoring the situation alongside Surrey County Council, Tandridge District Council and the London Borough of Croydon.”
The warning looks to be in place for a week, with the website undertaking to update on the situation on March 13 “or sooner if the situation changes”.
There is a government Floodline for advice, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Telephone: 0345 988 1188
Textphone: 0345 602 6340
What we suggested in January: Purley and Coulsdon might be set for new Bourne adventure
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ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2024, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for a SEVENTH successive year in the annual round-up of civic cock-ups in Private Eye magazine
“Riparian owners are reminded to keep clear the sections of river that flow through their land”. Riparian? Isn’t that where Hyacinth Bucket held her entertainments?
It’s a good job we’ve got a government and council that takes climate change and its causes so seriously that urgent actions to head off a catastrophe are being taken right now, er, hang on a minute, fuel duty frozen again, WTF?
https://check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/station/9306 is the one to watch. That’s the groundwater level in Woldingham, which hit 111m 10 years ago, when we had the floods that fed from there all the way down to Purley Cross. Normally it’s between 70m and 104m. Right now it’s over 108m. And rising
I’m sure all the lessons learnt from 2014 have been implemented…
and still more flats etc and people are stuffed into the area!!!
I don’t think it’s necessarily the flats that are the problem – going up in the air presumably doesn’t affect flooding? Presumably good landscaping and drainage is more of a factor. If we want to blame individuals, then people replacing soil with paving or artificial grass can’t be helping.
Local measures, such as rain run off, is a factor. But global climate change is responsible for record rainfalls – eight months in succession with highest temperatures since records began – and that needs addressing in a much more strategic manner.
Mayor Perry take note