Flood victims blame councils (From South Wales Argus)

Flood victims blame councils

10:26am Friday 20th April 2001

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FLOODED residents have criticised district and county councils for failing to help them in their hour of need.

Villagers in Hambleden have become used to flooding this year, but when The Brook burst its banks again last week, residents claim the local councils were slow to help and left them to put down sandbags unaided.

Conditions in the village have been difficult all winter, and 89-year-old Doris Smith, who has lived in Hambleden all her life, said she could not remember a year like it.

She added: "I came downstairs on Monday and stepped in water in my front room. We have had to take all the carpets up. It has been flooded in my house and is very difficult to live in."

Neighbours Caroline and Hugh Wilcock have just returned from a week away to find The Brook flooded again.

Mrs Wilcock said she had telephoned both the district and county councils for sandbags. She added: "Every time you go out of the house you have to put wellies on. The council just came here, dumped the sandbags and we had to put them out. The council only came after we phoned them and I had to phone four times."

Wycombe District Council has provided residents with temporary toilet facilities and has offered temporary emergency accommodation in the event of properties being flooded again.

Buckinghamshire County Council is working closely with Thames Water to ensure inconvenience to residents is minimised.

A district council spokesman said: "We have ensured that residents who have made a request have received sandbags delivered to their door on the same day as their request.

"Officers also provide help in laying the sandbags if help is required. In addition a load of sandbags was delivered to the town centre for those who hadn't requested bags."

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