Weather woe as Arun homes hit by flash floods

TYPICAL British summer weather dampened the bank holiday weekend as homes across the Gazette area were hit by flash floods.
Cars struggle through flash flooding in The Street, Rustington                                                            PHOTO: Jeff WebbCars struggle through flash flooding in The Street, Rustington                                                            PHOTO: Jeff Webb
Cars struggle through flash flooding in The Street, Rustington PHOTO: Jeff Webb

Hopes of heading to the beach and soaking up the sun over the three-day break were dashed for many as heavy rain lashed down on Saturday (August 24).

Firefighters were called to three homes in Littlehampton that had been affected by the sudden deluge.

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Angela Tester, secretary of the Littlehampton Flood Action Group, said flooding remained a major threat in the town.

“This was another extreme event,” she said. “We had something similar last year, a once-in-a-200-year event, which caused serious flooding in the town.

“Thankfully it wasn’t nearly as bad this time. But it proves that surface water flooding is still a serious problem in Littlehampton.

“It’s something that really needs to be addressed.”

She added: “I have been speaking to a chap who was on holiday over the weekend when his home was flooded. His carpet had been ruined.

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“He was affected by last year’s floods, which saw sewage leaking into his home. He had a non-return valve fitted, so to be flooded because of surface water is really unfortunate.”

Properties in South Terrace, St Catherine’s Road, Fitzalan Road and Church Street were affected, as were some in The Street and Holmes Lane, in Rustington.

A spokesman for West Sussex County Council, said: “This case of flash flooding demonstrates how vulnerable areas can be at any time.”

Mrs Tester is appealing for cash from the county council’s flood defence improvement scheme, Operation Watershed.

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She is asking the council to examine the drainage system at the junction of Beach Road and Church Street, as well as to investigate twittens behind properties along South Terrace.

For the full story, see this week’s Littlehampton Gazette (Thursday, August 29).

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