Submerged Stories: Staines carer displaced for 7 months
In this, the first of a series of real life tales, we shed the light on the continued suffering of local residents still living with the aftermath of this year's flooding
I live in Staines, and I was flooded in February this year.
I have lived here in the same house for 27 years, and have never experienced anything as horrendous and frightening as my house being flooded.
I have only just moved back in last week, after spending 2 days with friends, a month in a hotel, and just over 6 months in a rental property.
To be displaced, and away from my home for over 7 months is unacceptable.
To make matters worse, I am also a carer for my 89 year old Mother, so I had to travel further to attend to her needs , so that made the whole scenario much worse and very stressful.
We were very much high media profile, with sky news being located at the top of Aymer Drive, then once the water levels had subsided after approx. 2 weeks, we were suddenly the forgotten people.
I had tried to gain access to my property about a week after the flood, with a police escort, but it was still too deep and dangerous to proceed.
I managed to gain access after approx. 2 weeks, and I was quite surprised as there was no police or army presence, and I was able to go to my house and remove articles without being challenged by anyone?
It was a looters paradise, as everyone in the road had been evacuated.
I did express my concerns to Philip Hammond our local MP, who passed my concerns to silver command.
I hear now that Thames Water are not going to dredge the river, so what is being done for the future to avoid disasters like this happening again?
After all-we are not a third world country!
There are so may drains that need cleaning, and in Aymer Drive nearer the top, there is always water across the road whenever there is excessive rainfall, which would indicate a blockage in the drains?
Runnymede council seem to be oblivious to this?
We cannot just be left, in the hope that it will not happen again.
Also I am dreading the cost of my insurance renewal next year, which will no doubt be colossal with a huge flood excess, through no fault of my own.
David Cameron did say that people affected by the floods should not be inconvenienced, but all will be revealed at insurance renewal!