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Flood update |News Flood village still recovering


An autumn day and an idyllic picture of the River Beult meandering slowly through Yalding, with ducks gliding along as the gentle current flows under Town Bridge.


It’s hard to believe that just nine months ago, thiswas a village virtu- ally under siege, as torrents from that same river ploughed through homes and gardens, sweeping prop- erty and boxes of pricelessmemories away in thewaves. Politicians of all parties – even the


Prime Minister – came and went; HRH Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall visited to offer their sympathies to families flooded out during Christmas 2013. The spotlight may have faded but for many, the nightmare isn’t over.


More than a dozen houses are still


empty, skips sit outside and builders’ vans are on the drives. Some homeowners are beginning


to despair of returning to normal life, surrounded by paperwork, insur- ance claims and building battles. Although the community spirit is


still alive andwell, for a few, morale is at an all-time low. And, with winter approaching, it


is increasingly difficult to fight off fears of a repeat – especially as the promised action to improve flood defences is still someway off.


Husband’s death in ‘year from hell’


CAROL Owens is one of many vil- lage residents prescribed anti-de- pressants following the flood – but she didn’t think for onemomentthat life could get evenworse. Following a stint with friends in


Skips are a regular feature in Yalding Rallying round


LOCALS continue to rally round to lend a hand when needed. The Monday coffee mornings are


due to re-start in church in October for anyone whowants to drop in for company and a chat, while residents in Acott Fields are due to throw a barbecue for friends and neighbours. Former churchwarden Trish


Oyler, who was among those washed out of Acott Fields, said: “There are still people out there for those who need a helping hand or someone to talk to.” The village vicar, Rev Paul Filmer,


has himself beenunwell but calls for help can be made to the vicarage on Tuesdays and Thursdays (814182).


Starting again


CHRISTINE O’Neill, whose listed cottagewas one of those which bore the brunt of the flood, said: “Time hasmoved on andwe have been for- gotten.Nobodytalks about flood de- fences any more and winter is approaching. “Wewant to get on with our lives


but it’s difficult. I hate the thought of moving back in, putting in floors, a kitchen and buying furniture for it all to potentially happen again. “As soon as we start to get con-


stant, heavy rain, it tips me over the edge. The pressure of trying to get my lovely old home sorted out, to- gether with the hassles of living in temporary accommodation has been a nightmare. It has made me ill and I know I couldn’t do it all again.”


West Farleigh, Carol and husband David spent time in two hotels, be- fore moving back into the village. Carol found David collapsed on May 20, having suffered a major brain haemorrhage. He was later pronounced dead. The couple had been together for 41years. She said: “This has been the year


from hell – and it’s not over yet. Buildingwork hasn’t evenstarted on the house, although I’ve been told I


Carol Owens with her wedding photograph


His death must have been caused by an element of stress. When he first saw the extent of the flooding, he was really distressed.” Carol’s new kitchen units will be


should be back in by November.” She said: “Idesperatelywant to be


back inmyhouse before Christmas – otherwise I will have spent a whole year on the move.” She said: “Davidwas 68 but young at heart and very young for his age.


of marine standard – capable of re- sisting any flood – and the floors will be tiled, with rugs which can be lifted at the first drop ofwater. She cannot, however, replace a precious pianola – a family heirloom brought over fromAustralia – or her son’s trunk of old school photos and graduation pictures. “You have no idea that a flood will


have such an impact,” she said. “It is a shock at first – but the aftermath is just horrific.”


Victims suffering from stress ‘We’re staying’


AS a firefighter in London for 29 years, postmaster Tim Chapman, a former watch manager, regularly encountered tragedy and trauma. He believes many of the flood victims are suffering a form of post traumatic stress disorder brought on by months of displacement. He said: “In the fire service, we


had welfare personnel who spoke to us after a particularly traumatic incident but, as a group of blokes together, we would deal with it by talking about it amongst ourselves. But that doesn’t happen with the


ordinary man or woman in the street. These people simply don’t know what to do. “They continue to function, but know something isn’t right.”


MAX and Nick Cathersides had lived in their cottage for just a year when the floods arrived. They and their sons Matt (22) and Elliott (19) stayed with family in north Kent for almost eight months while re- pairs were carried out. The couple had no contents in- surance and lost everything they weren’t able to carry upstairs, but they have had no hesitation in re- newing their tenancy. Max said: “It’s a lovely commu-


nity where everyone helps each other out.”


Taking steps to protect residents


LAST year’s floods were the largest ever recorded on the Medway up- stream of Tonbridge and the Envi- ronment Agency is re-assessing those areas most and least at risk. As well as changing the risk level


for some homeowners, this helps the agency when devising flood man- agement schemes and assists itwhen bidding for funding. Pledges to protect the people of


Yalding and the low-lying areas hinge on raising the height of the Leigh flood defence barrier. Built in 1982, primarily to protect


Tonbridge, itwas the opening of the barrier to save Tonbridge which caused the massive River Medway surge, engulfing Yalding. Although the agency already has


one or two preferred options for the Leigh barrier, it needs to obtain de- signs, consult with landowners, ob- tain planning permission and calibrate compensation payments before tendering for the scheme – likely to be at the end of 2018. A barrier on the Beult could be


built in one of several places – not necessarily at Stile Bridge.


Neil Gunn, flood risk manage-


ment engineer, for the Environment Agency said: “We are trying to de- liver a package ofworks which min- imises the risk of flooding on the Beult and the Teise.” He added: “The support from


KCCis critical andPaul Carter wrote to Danny Alexander to say the total cost would be about £35m. If the Government could contribute 50%, he said the county council would find the balance.” TheEAwas seeking funding from the EU and other options.


Maidstone South September 2014 15


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