Horncastle flooding: Farmer hits out at Environment Agency

A farmer has criticised the Environment Agency (EA) after properties were flooded in Horncastle in the wake of Storm Babet.

Floodwater is supposed to be stored on John Harrison's land as part of a flood relief scheme.

However, he claims a switch was left in the wrong position for several hours allowing water to flow back into the river.

The EA said there would be a full investigation into what happened.

A number of homes in Horncastle and surrounding villages were flooded over the weekend despite an £8m Flood Alleviation Scheme, which was completed in 2017.

It consists of a single flood storage reservoir on the River Bain, upstream of the town.

That scheme uses John Harrison's land, but on Friday he discovered a problem.

"I was down here at midday and I could see immediately the mechanism was holding water back from going down the river but the return valve was open.

"So it was like getting in a bath and you turn the tap on and haven't put the plug in."

Mr Harrison said he realised this would pose a serious flood risk and called the EA.

"They told me they knew there was a problem here some time about 09:00 in the morning.

"I said 'well there will be a problem very shortly because all the water is still going down the plughole as it were'."

He said it was not until 14:00 BST that two men from the EA arrived and switched the valve.

"I feel the Environment Agency have a lot to answer for," Mr Harrison said.

Lincolnshire area director with the EA, Leigh Edlin told BBC Radio Lincolnshire he did not know all the details.

"Our focus at the moment is responding to the ongoing situation.

"We do need to get to the bottom of what happened and we will do, but right now we are focusing on keeping people safe."

He said the agency would conduct its own review in due course.

"We know the flood storage reservoir is working at the moment and it is storing water as it is supposed to."

Mr Harrison's comments come as the Met Office has forecast further rainfall and 26 flood warnings remain in place in and around Lincolnshire.

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