Maidenhead & Windsor

With a series of flood warnings in place for the River Thames through the Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough, the council is ready for action to help ensure local residents are better equipped to deal with potential problems.

The Environment Agency is predicting that because of the recent heavy rain in the Cotswolds water levels in the River Thames will rise over the next couple of days, with potential for some flooding in the areas of

* Datchet, Horton and Wraysbury
* Cookham, Bisham and Hurley.

The anticipated peak will be on Wednesday but the Environment Agency says that levels are not expected to be as high as those experienced in 2003.

The Windsor and Maidenhead council wants to make sure that local residents are aware of the flood warnings and, if their homes are susceptible to flooding, that they take necessary precautions.

Actions underway include:

* Throughout today (Monday) Streetcare officers are visiting the potential flood areas, calling at homes to offer help and advice and leaving information sheets with helpful tips and contact numbers.
* Sandbags have been taken from the central depot at Tinkers Lane to strategic local sites, ready for quick distribution if needed to homes at risk of flooding and to vulnerable people unable to take precautions themselves.
* The emergency operations centre has been kept open following Friday’s flash floods in Windsor and Maidenhead and will remain in action throughout this week.
* There is close liaison with the Environment Agency to keep abreast of predicted water levels in the Thames.
* Comfortable accommodation has been reserved as a precaution in both Maidenhead and Windsor for families and older people should they have to move out of their homes.
* The Customer Service Centre has ready access to constantly-updated flood information and council services on 01628 683804

Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead highways transport and the environment, said: “While the Environment Agency has assured us that Thames water levels will not be as high as in 2003, we are taking no chances. We are keeping the council’s emergency responses in full readiness and in the event of flooding will work tirelessly to help residents affected.”

In the meantime the council is advising householders to get information from the Environment Agency’s Floodline on 0845 988 1188 or its website www.environment-agency.gov.uk

There are a number of precautions that householders in flood risk areas can take themselves to help minimise damage:

* move as much furniture, electrical goods and valuables as possible upstairs
* move cars to higher ground
* block outside ground level air bricks
* use plastic sheeting held down by bin bags filled with soil to block ground floor doorways, garages and sheds.

Appeal to drivers
The Windsor and Maidenhead Royal Borough has also issued an appeal for drivers to act responsibly and not drive through flooded areas.

Eric Livingstone, streetcare manager, explained: “Last Friday’s flooding in Maidenhead demonstrated very clearly the damage that can be caused to people’s home by thoughtless drivers who ignore advice and drive through flooded roads. They may get to their own homes safe and dry but they create waves of water that pours into nearby houses.

“Much of the damage at Wootton Way and Clare Road in Maidenhead could have been avoided or minimised if drivers, particularly of 4 x 4s, vans and lorries, had turned away instead of ploughing through the water.”

The council’s advice to drivers is: Obey road closed signs, take alternative routes wherever possible – and think about the problems they are creating for other home owners. The council also advises people not to paddle or cycle through flood water.

Clear-up after Friday’s flooding
Throughout the weekend council staff have been working with residents in Wootton Way and Clare Road, Maidenhead, and Pierson Road and Burnetts Road, Windsor, to help with the aftermath of Friday’s flooding.

* Streetcare workers have cleaned the streets of debris and teams are also making sure that gullies and drains are clear, free-flowing and capable of coping with normal levels of rainfall.
* The customer service centre opened early today (Monday) to deal with telephone calls from residents, with staff on duty from 7am.
* This afternoon teams from the social care services are visiting residents in the worst affected areas to make sure they have all the help they need and to give out information sheets.
* The council will remove flood-damaged furniture and equipment free of charge – residents just need to put it at the front of their property and call the customer service centre to arrange for its collection.

Cllr David Burbage, council leader and lead member for Maidenhead, said he welcomed the additional council support being offered to flood-hit families. He added: “Friday’s freak weather caused damage to a number of local homes and I would like to pay tribute to the residents affected for the way they coped with the situation and their determination to get back to normal. I know that for some it will be a long process and the council is offering a great deal of support to help them at this very difficult time.”

Residents who need further information should not hesitate to contact the customer service centre on 01628 683804. If they need to contact the council outside normal office hours the number to call is 01753 853517, which operates a 24 hour service.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead