Marston Moretaine landowner says land 'sacrificed' in floods

When small proprietor Joanna Johnson put out a plea for assistance on social media, she had no concept that so lots of her buddies and neighbors within the Bedfordshire village of Marston Moretaine would courageous the wind and rain to assist her.

Following latest heavy rain within the space, they believed their land had been flooded because of extra water from the drainage pool alongside the A421, which had grow to be inundated.

Over the weekend, the National Highway stated Still 60 million liters of water must be taken out From the submerged street.

Ms Johnson stated the individuals who helped save her animals have been “heroes in this”.

He stated, “They were here all night, swimming in sometimes chest-deep water to save my sheep, goats and ponies. Hour after hour.”

“I am very grateful.”

Ms Johnson stated the water came to visit her small holding “like a tidal wave” after the area was hit by extreme climate final week.

He added, “It quickly came over the fence and engulfed the enclosure within a few minutes.”

“If I hadn't actually been on site, all my animals would have drowned before I could do anything.”

His land is near the A421 on the Marston Moretaine interchange which stays underwater.

They consider that the National Highways have “sacrificed” their land “for the road”.

She says large drainage swimming pools had grown up on the opposite aspect of her fence, with bushes and bushes rising among the many reeds.

It isn’t potential to see the pipes meant to unfold water as they’re coated with weeds.

After these ponds overflowed and flooded neighboring lands in January, contractors have been despatched to seek out out the trigger.

He informed native residents that among the pipes carrying water have been so silted up that even a digicam couldn’t be put in to verify them, and different pipes weren’t linked correctly, so weren’t functioning.

Ms Johnson stated she had requested the Highways Agency to do one thing in regards to the problem.

“They knew there were animals here but they didn't care,” Ms Johnson stated.

“They would have known how much water they were taking out and what it would do, and they did it anyway.

“I have lost everything. My animals survived, but there is no safe place to keep them, the local council says I now have to re-home them.”

Bedfordshire is not a flood-prone county.

The Greensand Ridge runs through it, and most local farms drain their land using pond systems.

Pat Davis has lived in Marston Moretaine for 58 years.

His house was one of about twenty houses on his street that were recently flooded.

“This has been happening ever since they built the dual carriageway,” he stated.

“I don't remember there ever being a flood before.

“It's happening again and again now – twice this year.

“And Highways England say they are only responsible for a little bit closer to the road.”

This part of the A421 is comparatively new, accomplished in 2010.

It additionally gained the British Construction Industry Award in 2011.

This flooded part was dug below an current street, and its personal pumping stations and drainage swimming pools have been constructed on both aspect to cope with any extra water.

However this pumping station was flooded because of heavy rains and couldn’t perform because of which tankers needed to be introduced in.

In an announcement, National Highways stated: “We are not using the available National Highways balancing pond near Marston Moretaine for pumping, to ensure we do not impact local residents.

“The areas we are taking water to have been carefully considered, with advice from the Environment Agency and local internal drainage boards, to ensure we are not impacting local communities.

“All of these areas are being closely monitored, and pumping/tankering will be discontinued if these areas become unable to safely hold any more water.”

There is a small creek at one finish of Ms. Johnson's small holding. It has been freshly dug and water is flowing out of a pipe dug into the financial institution from one of many drainage swimming pools.

You can hear the pumps operating just some meters away on the street.

The assertion of the National Highway was learn out to him.

“I feel like I'm pumping”, she stated in response. “But what do I know?”

At this time he acquired one other flood warning for his small holding.

She laughed and stated, “It hardly matters now, I've already lost everything. But at least my animals are safe.”