Our homes are drenched by 8 INCHES of flood water ‘like a river’ – carers can’t reach elderly residents trapped inside
ELDERLY neighbours have been trapped inside their homes by an eight-inch deluge that has turned their gardens into “rivers”.
People living in Kenton Bar, Newcastle have faced misery after repeated deluges hit 54 houses in Hartburn Walk.
And they’ve blasted the council amid claims officials have done nothing to help.
Doris Sellers, who turns 90 this year, is visited by carers twice a day. However, in the bad weather, helpers struggle to get to her bungalow.
She said: “I have carers who come, and they’ve complained about the water in the past.
“They’ve said their shoes and feet are soaking by the time they get to my door.
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“When it rains, it goes down past my gate because it floods right into my yard.”
She said she’s trapped inside when the weather is particularly bad.
While Doris owns her bungalow, the council is the landowner for the courtyard.
“It’s been a problem for many years. I’m flooded near to my wall when it gets bad,” she said.
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“Nothing ever seems to get done.
“They could lift the flagstones outside and make a drain so the water runs away.
“It’s a real worry, especially in the winter when the weather gets worse.”
Flood water is known to flow off high ground towards houses in lower-lying areas.
But Colin Palmer, who is disabled, had to pay around £300 for a worker to raise the fence around his garden.
WATER NIGHTMARE
The 57-year-old said: “I’ve lived here for 21 years and I’ve seen major problems.
“On days where there are heavy downpours, we’re talking eight inches of standing water outside the house.”
Anyone who wants to sell their home must tell would-be buyers about the floods, he says.
“In the winter it’s really serious, because if it freezes then we end up with really thick ice,” he added.
Gerald Temple, 78, has lived in Hartburn Walk for 50 years.
During heavy downpours, there’s eight inches of standing water outside the house
Colin Palmer
The retired joiner said flooding happens “every time” there’s a heavy downpour.
“Part of my gated fence had to come down because it became rotten,” he said.
“We had issues with damp parts inside the house as well.”
The council has been awarded £435,000 from the Environment Agency and the Department for Education, which it will use the build low walls and increase drainage.
The money will also be spent building new soil embankments.
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Labour councillor Stephen Lambert told Chronicle Live: ”The £450,000 flood alleviation scheme will better protect homes and Kenton Bar Primary School from surface water flooding.
“Sustainable drainage features will be put in.”