Flooding returns after downpours but is not as bad as last time

FLOODING returned this week following more heavy rain.

The Thames and Loddon rivers overflowed in several places, causing flooding on low-lying land.

Thames Side and Riverside in Henley were affected and Mill Meadows was also flooded. Willow Lane and Loddon Drive in Wargrave were under water and Spring Lane in Playhatch was closed.

However, the water did not reach the levels seen in January when homes and businesses were flooded.

The Environment Agency said the water level at the measuring station at Marsh Lock in Henley reached its peak of 3.71m on Tuesday.

Two red flood warnings were issued for Henley, Shiplake, Lower Shiplake and Wargrave.

Peter Herbert, a director of Hobbs of Henley in Station Road, said its boats were out of action due to the strong stream in the river.

He said: “The water has come over the towpath and our landing stages. We will be glad to see it go.”

Robert Davies, 61, who lives in Mill Lane, said: “It was about 40cm lower than in January so that allowed us to still drive in and out, provided you have a robust four by four. Everyone else had to park in the car park and wade through the water to get to their house.

“On old Mill Lane, where there are older houses, some water got in them last time but I don’t think it has come back with that severity.

“This is only going to get more frequent because of global warming.”

Kate Oldridge, who chairs environmental group Greener Henley, said: “Our heart goes out to businesses and homeowners who have been badly affected by flooding over the past month.

“Unfortunately, the frequency and severity of flooding is a direct consequence of climate change and we are calling on all parts of our community to come together to take action at a local level to help turn the tide. If you would like to get involved, we would urge you to join Greener Henley.”

Professor Hannah Cloke, professor of hydrology at the University of Reading, said: “Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and severity of flooding events, so it is concerning that eight per cent of new homes built in England in the past decade are in flood zones.

“Henley’s neighbourhood plan rightly aims to steer new development away from high-risk areas. Not only are new properties vulnerable to flooding, but our homes, the shops we depend on and the businesses we love could also be at risk from catastrophic water damage as rising temperatures increase flood frequency.

“We need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming and fund better flood defences to protect ourselves from the dangers climate change presents.”

The Met Office says it will turn colder tomorrow (Saturday) with a mixture of sunshine and showers which could turn into longer spells of rain.