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Councillor ‘in tears’ at town's flooding 'carnage'

Janet Miller A garden - lawn and patio - submerged under waterJanet Miller
Janet Miller's house and garden was one of several in Flitwick that were badly flooded

A councillor whose town was completely cut off by flooding said she was "in tears" at the “enormity of the distress” it caused.

Heather Townsend said Flitwick in Bedfordshire had suffered "carnage" after 118mm of rain fell in 24 hours over the weekend.

The independent Central Bedfordshire councillor said she had been unable to get hold of sandbags or road closure signs.

"We as a town have to have a far, far better response when these emergencies occur," she said, adding that she would also look at "quick fixes" around drains.

"I completely acknowledge that the level of maintenance of our gullies, drains, rivers was not up to standard," Townsend posted on Facebook.

Heather Townsend Heather Townsend presenting a video on Facebook. She is looking down at the camera.Heather Townsend
Heather Townsend broadcast a video on Facebook to update residents in Flitwick about the flooding situation

The town was particularly badly affected as the River Flit burst its banks and trees fell across roads. At one point, all the major roads leading out of Flitwick were closed, while many properties also suffered from flash flooding.

Ms Townsend described an area in Hinksley Road "with a lot of bungalows housing vulnerable and elderly people".

"Waste water was coming up through the sinks, the toilets were blocked, and most of the gardens became a lake," she said.

Heather Townsend A street with flooding on the road and pavement Heather Townsend
Heather Townsend says water came up through residents' sinks in Hinksley Road

She said the systems – both administrative and physical - had been overwhelmed.

"We couldn't get sandbags or 'Road Closed' signs," she said.

"These gratings and gullies along the roads can only cope with a certain amount of water.

"We’ve had flooding before and the Flit burst its banks, but this was unprecedented. Now these ‘once in a lifetime’ incidences are happening every one-to-two years."

Julie Warne A spade digging inside a road drain which is full of mud and debris.Julie Warne
Resident cleared out drains and gullies, which Townsend said had not been sufficiently maintained

However, local residents had pulled together to bail each other out, the councillor said.

Townsend said she was going to push for "quick easy fixes" to flooding such as fixing known broken pipes and "logging culverts" that need maintaining.

She said she was also working with the leader of Flitwick Town Council, Andy Snape, to put measures in place for future situations.

"We will have a proper contingency plan in place with costings and the right equipment – we don't at the moment."

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