Evesham traders braced for flood water to reach shops

Traders in Evesham are braced for rising flood water reaching their premises as fears grow for the town being cut off to traffic.

Waterside, near the River Avon and one of the main routes into the town, has been closed due to flooding.

In Bodenham, Herefordshire, the River Lugg has almost reached record levels of 3m (9.8ft).

The Environment Agency said river levels would continue to rise throughout the week.

Alex Kvecki, who runs Evesham Express in Port Street, near flooding on Waterside, said he feared the impact on Evesham, adding flood water might reach his store.

"It's concerning... maybe it [the water] will come bigger and maybe no traffic and maybe it will go in the house, maybe it will come in our store and we don't know what will happen," he said.

He said he had been in the shop for about eight years and had seen slightly higher levels when he had first arrived, when flood water went into houses and the shop.

"You see nobody walking... the Waterside is closed. It's affecting all of us."

Sam Bolter, who has run The Pet Food store on Port Street for about 20 years, said he did not think the flooding could be avoided.

"If they want to get through Waterside they can't, they have to go round the back, Cheltenham Road... there's just no way into the town alongside Waterside coming into Port Street, going up the town, so really they're cut off," he added.

In Bodenham, Herefordshire, a flood pump installed last winter failed to stop water from the Lugg flooding St Michael and All Angels church.

Widemarsh Brook, in Hereford, burst its banks on Wednesday and led to flooding at Westfields FC, putting their match against Highworth Town on Saturday in jeopardy.

In Hereford, the River Wye has flooded Greyfriars Avenue multiple times in recent years, but so far no houses have been flooded bar the rowing club, which is designed to deal with it, flood warden Colin Taylor said.

The river was expected to peak at 5.1m (16ft) on Wednesday.

Since major flooding in 2020, residents have been awarded government grants which enabled barriers and pumps to be installed, along with other measures.

Bill Jones, a resident of 45 years, said they were a "Godsend".

"We didn't have this years ago and I've been flooded several times - I've even left my carpets down this time because in theory I shouldn't have to pick them up.... I think we're going to get away with it," he said.

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