Flood-hit town 'still awaits answers' one year on

A town is still waiting for a full report on a catastrophic flooding event a year ago, a resident has said.

More than 100 properties in Ryde, Isle of Wight, were deluged early on 25 October 2023.

Dan Thomas, whose home was affected, said the Environment Agency had still not explained why a flood wall at Simeon Street Recreation Ground was only partially sealed.

The agency said it had since installed valves at the site to drain water away and had reviewed its procedures.

In total, 107 properties were flooded internally when unexpectedly heavy rain overwhelmed Monktonmead Brook, an Isle of Wight Council report said.

Those affected included a pregnant nurse who had to dive underwater to escape her basement flat and a pub landlord whose cellar was flooded "right up to the ceiling".

As the flood waters rose, drop boards were lowered into place at the Simeon Rec barrier.

However, the Environment Agency only fitted two out of five boards at each of the three available positions, the council's Section 19 report said.

The report, dated September 2024, said the agency was still reviewing the cause of the flooding and the operation of the flood scheme.

Mr Thomas said: "The Environment Agency haven't made a statement to say why their decision was made.

"This facility... cost about £5m. If they're not going to use it on a day when there's supposed to be high tides and a great deal of rainfall, when are they going to use it?

"Was it a human error that somebody made a decision that was incorrect and didn't follow procedures?"

The Environment Agency, which published an initial report in November 2023, said: "Our sympathies always go out to those whose homes and businesses are flooded.

“Some 83mm (3.3in) of rain fell on Ryde in 18 hours on 24/25 October last year, more than the monthly average.

“On the night, we installed flood boards into the wall at Simeon Recreation Ground.

"We have since fitted valves to help drain surface water away, reducing the risk of flooding, carried out further maintenance, reviewed our procedures to ensure operating resilience and strengthened our relationship with local people through the Ryde flood action group."

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