Rescues and evacuations amid widespread flooding

SOME of the worst flooding for a decade caused widespread disruption in the Henley area.

Some residents were forced to evacuate their homes and businesses had to close after the persistent rain late last week following Storm Henk.

Earlier, an 87-year-old woman died when her car hit a fallen tree that had been brought down by strong winds during the storm.

There was widespread flooding in low-lying areas as both the River Thames and the River Loddon in Wargrave broke their banks and many flood warnings were issued.

Sonning Bridge was closed on Saturday due to floodwater on the road from the Playhatch roundabout on the A4155 and nearby Spring Lane was also shut, causing difficulties for people driving to work this week. At least two Henley businesses, the Bistro at the Boathouse restaurant and the Angel on the Bridge pub, had to close temporarily, as did the River & Rowing Museum in Mill Meadows, which was surrounded by floodwater.

The Mill at Sonning theatre was forced to cancel performances after its building was flooded and the Velolife Café in Wargrave was shut due to several inches of water inside.

Four residents were rescued by fire crews from their home in Loddon Drive, Wargrave, on Saturday and some of their neighbours also had to leave their homes.

The Environment Agency said water levels reached their peak on Sunday with the measuring station at Marsh Lock recording 4.27m. This was just 1cm below the highest level recorded in February 2014.

Police in Henley went door-to-door along Thames Side and New Street asking people to move their cars away from the riverside as the water level rose.

They also helped distribute sandbags that were piled up by Wharfe Lane to properties nearby.

On Sunday, Thames Side, Riverside and New Street were closed while Bell Street was shut for traffic coming into Henley. They had
re-opened by Tuesday afternoon.

On Monday, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue rescued a man on a boat stuck in floodwater near Temple Island.

Chef Shaun Dickens and his wife Gemma, who own the Bistro at the Boathouse in Station Road, had to cut short a family holiday in Dubai when they learned of the floods.

More than 20 of Mr Dickens’s friends from the ADVHQ gym in Newtown Road helped restaurant staff mop up water and move furniture to minimise the damage.

Gym owner Adam Lubbock said: “Shaun is a member here. We see him every day and have developed a really good relationship with him.

“At 10.30pm on Saturday, he gives me a call and was like, ‘The Boathouse is flooded and I’m in Dubai, can you go down there and help?’ and I was like, ‘Absolutely’.

“Before 11pm we had about 25 members there who brought pumps, buckets and mops.”

Mr Lubbock said: “We were mopping for an hour but the river was continuing to rise. After that we got everything off the floor that we possibly could, such as fridges, so that when it did flood, the only thing that was going to be ruined was the floor. I have stayed in close contact with Shaun.”

After returning, Mr Dickens, said: “We were flooded in March 2014, which was a big shock but we haven’t flooded since —  until now.  We were insured the first time round but not this time because they  just don’t let you insure against flooding.”

He thanked his friends from the gym, saying: “Due to everything they did, it saved the restaurant, which is phenomenal.

“We would have lost pretty much everything, without them, I think.

“I ca not speak highly enough of every single one of them. Even the ones who couldn’t make it have sent me well wishes and checked in with us and offered help and support in other ways.

“It’s just amazing to have a community like that — you know who your true friends are when tough times hit.”

Mr Dickens said he was determined not to let the floods get the better of the business. He will continue to air the floor and hopes to be up and running again soon. 

The River & Rowing Museum was closed as the floodwater made the building and car park inaccessible.

Director Steve O’Connor, 42, said: “We shut for the safety of our staff as it wasn’t possible to enter the building through the car park due to the flooding.

“Inside the building is fine, as it is built on stilts, so we are able to withstand this freak weather. We are waiting for the water to go down, so we can then fully assess what has happened in the car park.”

The museum was due to reopen today (Friday).

The town council’s adventure golf course and play areas, off Meadow Road, were also closed due to the floodwater.

The area outside Hobbs of Henley in Station Road was flooded and its boat hire office suffered some damage.

General manager Kim Clifford said: “We have just put a new carpet in the boat hire office, so we know that is ruined, which is a shame.

“We know there are a couple of land stages broken too. We’ll know the full extent of the damage once the river has receded but it seems to be dropping well. We hope it’s just a little mud clean-up.”

David Tully, 76, who has lived on Rod Eyot with his wife Ann for more than 24 years, said the flooding was “not as bad as the photographs make it look”.

He said: “My house and the majority of the houses on the island are raised, so on the occasion the river comes up, we tend to retreat for a few days.

“I am not underplaying the flooding but understandably when you see the river come up, you become naturally concerned.

“I would be more shocked if I saw the River Thames running down the road than outside my house, which it already does 365 days of the year.”

Mr Tully said living on the island was a “lifestyle choice” and the “pleasure of it certainly outweighs any disadvantages.”

The mermaid statue was virtually the only visible feature on Red Lion Lawn due to the high water level and Lion Meadow, the car park for Henley Royal Regatta on the other bank, was submerged.

Henley Rowing Club in Wargrave Road was closed as its car park was flooded but Leander Club was operating as normal.

Many football fixtures were cancelled including the Henley Town development side’s clash with Cookham Dean on Saturday. The pitch at Triangle Ground in Mill Lane was unplayable due to flooding.

More fixtures are expected to be off this weekend.

John Hooper, the club’s former chairman, said: “We have had it before but not as intense. We can’t get down there at all.

“Hopefully everything is going to be okay. Let’s just say we’re looking forward to the summer.”

Sam Evans, who lives in Mill Lane, where the floodwater was about 2ft deep, said: “I think the shock was that the water came up so quickly.

“We could get on to our drive on Thursday evening and on Friday we were still okay in waders but by Saturday we couldn’t. I am 5ft 10in and it’s pretty much up to my waist.

“It’s quite frightening because the water is moving so quickly down Mill Lane. It is as fast as the river, I think. You only walk up and down the lane if you have to. A Land Rover Discovery got stuck — that’s how high it is.

“There’s a fantastic community spirit in the lane. We have a WhatsApp group chat called Mill Lane Waders and everybody is in contact. People are helping to move things and get sandbags and offering help.

“Our cars are all parked in Mill Lane car park. We moved them there on Thursday and gave my dog to friends because our garden was flooded.

“Being at home without my dog is sad and we don’t know when we can get him back but he’s safe and warm and happy.

“We went out on Saturday and put the test waders on and made our way to the car park. There is some rubbish floating past but nothing significant.”

Rupert Britton, who also lives in Mill Lane, said: “On Friday, the water was going up quite fast after Thursday’s rain and then it started petering out and raised all our hopes. Then it suddenly went up again.

“There were a few 4x4s which tried to get through on Saturday and even the Defenders were struggling through that amount of water. Our houses are all built to withstand floods and are raised on stilts so luckily we were fine.”

Sally Hughes, managing director, of the Mill at Sonning, said: “We had to cancel two shows over the weekend but were back up and running on Sunday with our first show on Tuesday night.

“The team’s front of house and backstage have worked wonders getting the theatre back up and running.

“Our stage manager, James Neal, and production manager, Joan Farnese, and the rest of the team helped to build a walkway under the stage — everyone was just extraordinary.”

At the Goring Gap Boathouse, the water was waist high but all the boats and equipment were moved prior to the flooding.

Richard Barkley, one of the captains, said: “The whole of our boathouse is flooded. The water is a good metre and a half higher than we currently are. We can’t even get to the river.

“Boats were moved to heights and equipment where it won’t be affected and we alerted all the members that they can’t go rowing.

“We haven’t actually been able to row for about a month now but once the water subsides hopefully we can.” Sheep farmer Tracy “Bill” Bettridge was surprised by the speed of the flooding at Kingsbarn Farm, Medmenham.

She said: “We were really caught with our trousers down. We were far too complacent as we didn’t think it would be as bad as it has been. It has not been this bad in 50 years. It was quicker to rise than I have ever seen it.

“The animals had to come first and then we had to make sure everything was good and then we did the moving of the mundane and expensive stuff, such as the machinery.

“The goats and the sheep were a little damp, as they had to trek through some water, but they soon warmed up in the barn after being a bit cold and shocked and they are happy in their new location.”

The owners of the Flowing Spring pub in Playhatch said they were experiencing record water levels, which have covered the car park and gardens.

Nick Willson, who runs the pubs with wife Hazel Lucas, said: “We had some flooding in late November and early December and the ground was so saturated that the recent deluges have brought higher levels of flooding than in the 14 years we’ve been here.

“At the bottom of the car park, it’s 4ft deep and we’re expecting levels to rise even further as water continues to flow downstream.”

The pub continues to operate but has lost trade.

Mr Willson said: “Anyone passing the pub sees this ocean of water. Anyone who may be planning to stop for a bite to eat and a pint can’t seem to entertain the idea we’re actually open, even though we have signs and posters everywhere.

“Others simply stop to admire the scene but don’t come in. It’s a shame because this is the time of year when we really need customers’ support.”

Matt Dockray, 43, leaseholder of the Little Angel pub in Remenham Lane, appealed to people to give a helping hand to those in need.

He said: “We have only been a part of the community for a year but have seen over the past few days how devastating it can be, operating and living by this beautiful river.

“This beast gives us revenue and wealth during the summer but can bring us to our knees during the winter months.

“We have been very lucky with Mother Nature knocking on our back door but remain open.

“If you have been displaced, flooded or need a place to dry out, we have wi-fi, fires to warm up, parking and free soft drinks and tea and coffee so you have somewhere to stay for the day.

“Let’s hope the water recedes and the damage is limited. Please call us or email us if we can support you in any way.”

Firefighters have attended eight incidents in Henley since Thursday last week while Oxfordshire County Council highways teams said it had attended dozens.

A council spokesman said: “Firefighters, highways teams, emergency planners and others from the county council have worked day and night to help residents.

“Work has been undertaken in close co-ordination with others including district councils, the Environment Agency and the police.

“Firefighters have worked to try to pump water away from flooded locations. Thousands of sandbags have been delivered, along with barriers, signage etc. Social care teams have been checking on vulnerable people.”

The Environment Agency said it had been installing barriers to minimise the effect of flooding and warned people of the dangers of flowing water.

A spokesman said: “Although the weather is turning drier, the Thames remains high.

“Agency teams remain out on the ground, working to minimise the effect of flooding where possible.

“We advise people to stay away from swollen rivers and not to drive through floodwater as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car.”

The UK Health Security Agency and Met Office have issued a cold weather alert for the whole of England. With so much standing water around, cold weather increases the chances of ice hazard for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

The Met Office says temperatures could dip as low as -2c over the next few days.

The county council is making daily decisions on when gritters should be sent out based on temperature forecasts.

Meanwhile, figures from Thames Water show that untreated sewage has been discharged into the River Thames over the past week.

Real-time data of storm discharges, when a mixture of rainwater and untreated sewage is released by storm overflows into watercourses during heavy rain, showed that this was still taking place as of Wednesday.

A map created by the water company showed that the latest discharges were into the Fawley Court Stream, where the storm overflow discharged for 45 minutes on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the Friday Street outlet in Henley was recorded discharging for four minutes and the outlet at Wargrave into the Loddon was discharging for 30 minutes.