ONE year on from the devastating floods that blighted a Basingstoke suburb, the ordeal is not over for the people who have had to rebuild their lives.
On February 8, 2014, following weeks of heavy rainfall, floodwater contaminated with sewage breached six properties in Sperrin Close, Buckskin.
Over the following days, a further 81 properties in Grampian Way, Exmoor Close, Bodmin Close, Antrim Close, Prescelly Close, Quantock Close and Holyrood Court were evacuated as groundwater flooding devastated the community, with families put into hotels and temporary accommodation.
Partners including Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Sovereign Housing Association worked around the clock until groundwater levels began to recede and tankering stopped on March 18.
An independent report published by Hampshire County Council in July 2014 revealed that a dormant spring, which became active, was part of the reason the area flooded, and experts concluded that surface water drainage needed to be reviewed to understand the underlying cause of the flooding.
Since then Thames Water and South East Water have been working together to clear drains, gulleys and soakaways to ensure they are in a good condition.
In December, the Government also pledged to provide a £2million cash injection to prevent flooding occurring in the area again, but residents face a long wait as the funding will not be available until 2018.
Sovereign Housing Association is still carrying out work on 10 homes which will be let in the next few months when work is completed.
Luke Bingham, Sovereign’s regional director for Hampshire, said: “February 2014 was a difficult time for everyone involved and we’d like to thank our residents for their patience and support.”
Councillor Paul Harvey, the deputy leader of the borough’s Labour group, told The Gazette: “In terms of the floods, it is a year on and the community have been through so much in that year. People are still looking to come back in their homes and the people in their homes are trying to make good the damage done.
“What people are going through and living through today is still a crisis and needs to be treated with absolute focus. There is lots more work to do and they are nowhere near getting residents what they need.”
Cllr Stephen Reid, Hampshire County Councillor for Basingstoke North West, added: “The good news is the water levels this year are less than it was this time last year and fingers crossed we are going to get through this winter without a repeat of the flooding which is what everyone wants to hear.
“A lot of work has gone into making sure the infrastructure we have works as well as it can. I have got an agreement from the leader and the Cabinet (at the county council) that in the event that we work up a good business case, we can have the county fund the work and be refunded”.
Officers at the county council are now working on designs for flooding alleviation projects that could be taken forward.
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