Flooding in Sidmouth and East Devon caused by heavy rain and inadequate local drainage.
The Bulverton Road is high above Sidmouth and well removed from any main river - yet it is often affected by 'floodwater' this being simply rainwater that is not adequately drained away. A similar event occurred in the nearby village of Beer a few years ago - a wall of rainwater and residues from free-range pig farming swept down Park Road into the village centre. There was little warning and several houses were badly damaged. Nearby Ottery St Mary has also suffered on many occasions with rainwater being unable to reach the River Otter without first flooding parts of the town.
Part of the problem in many cases may be long term removal of hedgerows and trees leaving wide open expanses of land on hillsides. These offer nothing that can help slow or absorb a sudden deluge. Another long term problem (now being addressed by Devon County Council and other bodies) is inadequate clearance of roadside ditches that traditionally have served to channel rainwater away from roads.
Whilst the Otter is slow and meandering, the nearby Sid valley (also in East Devon) is an example of a very 'flashy' river. Despite being only a few miles long, the Sid valley has very steep sides and the river can rise several feet inside a couple of hours. There can be little time install sandbags or other temporary flood alleviation measures. In these situations, permanent flood protection of buildings is recommended. However, flood conditions do not persist for long because the Sid is so fast flowing to the sea.
Ottery St Mary suffered an almost uniquely severe storm in late October 2008 - and despite being situated in the far more gentle Otter valley. It was left covered in snow, hailstones and with extensive flood damage. Severe rain had been predicted - but not that the storm would descend upon Ottery and stay in the immediate area for several hours. If such a storm had centred upon the steep-sided Sid valley, parts of Sidford and Sidmouth would have been severely flooded - and with very little warning. These pictures of Ottery St Mary are from BBC news.
This following text is abstracted from a newspaper article on the thisisexter website.
Residents mop up after freak floodResidents in Bulverton Park, Sidmouth, woke to find their properties under inches of water at 4am yesterday. Three detached houses on the small estate were swamped after main drains were unable to cope with rainfall and water spilled over on to a main road.
Pensioners Angela and Derek Partridge were woken by neighbours. "The water was two or three inches deep and our downstairs rooms were underwater," said Mrs Partridge. "It was pumped away by the fire brigade which was called out by our neighbours. "All our carpets are ruined, but it could have been a lot worse. We are waiting for our insurance assessors to look at the damage — we might have to move out while our wooden floors are replaced."
Neighbours, who did not want to be named, said the damage caused would cost thousands
of pounds to put right.
Police closed the road from the Bowd into Sidmouth for several hours when floodwater made
it near impassable for vehicles. The A3052 between Exeter and Seaton was turned into a
river in places and an earth bank which collapsed at Boshill Cross, near Colyford, closed
part of the road.
Ottery escaped a repeat of what happened in October 2008 when dozens of homes were flooded.
Further articles:
http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/floods/Residents-mop-freak-flood/article-660079-detail/article.html
http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/floods
photo gallery: floods in Ottery St Mary