Hampton Bishop reclaimed from the floods

Works to pump out water from Hampton Bishop, a village to the east of Hereford which suffered severe flooding over the weekend, has now enabled the B4224 Mordiford and Hampton Bishop road to be re-opened.

Following inspection by the council’s highways engineers and the police the main road is deemed passable this morning (Friday 27 July 2007) but some side roads in the village, like Whitehall Road and Church Lane, remain closed. The parapet to the Mordiford Bridge to the east of the village was damaged by the floods but this site is passable with care.

The Environment Agency and the fire and rescue service stopped pumping late yesterday (Thursday 25 July 2007). The Environment Agency has inspected flood defences for both the River Lugg and River Wye, which surround Hampton Bishop on three sides. Contrary to first impressions, the defences were not breeched and are intact. The level of the River Lugg has fallen but remains unpredictable. It is not expected in the short term to return to the high levels that led to the flooding of Hampton Bishop, but residents are advised to remain vigilant.

Over 120 people were rescued from Hampton Bishop over the weekend. This included 41 residents and staff from the Hampton House residential home, as a precaution when water invaded from the River Lugg and was at one point rising at six inches every half hour.

Councillor Josie Pemberton, ward councillor for Hampton Bishop, thanked the emergency services for their role in rescuing villagers.

“On behalf of Hampton Bishop”, she said, “I thank warmly the co-ordinated efforts of the emergency services, voluntary agencies and the council who worked very hard, particularly on Sunday evening, to take people to safety”.

Homeowners are reminded to take photographs of the damage to assist their insurance claims. Pedestrians should avoid walking through flooded roads and fields as there may be many hidden dangers that could cause injury.

Ends

Press release issued: July 27 2007