Months until flood victims can return home, environment secretary says

It may take "several months" for people to move back into their homes after flooding, Environment Secretary Therese Coffey said during a visit to a Nottinghamshire town.

Up to 500 homes were urged to evacuate in Retford due to sudden flooding.

Two "risk to life" warnings, which have since been downgraded, were issued for the River Idle in the town on Sunday.

Ms Coffey said it was "important to come and see people whose lives have been disrupted".

The Conservative MP for Suffolk Coastal added: "It's about coming and seeing what practical things we can try and get done quickly to help these communities.

"And that's part of the action that I'll be understanding and trying to take away today."

During a visit to the area, she said - between 2015 and 2021 - £2.6bn had been invested in flood defences across the country, which was more than 300,000 homes.

"We're partway through a programme of spending a further £5.2bn over a six-year time period," she added.

Asked about compensation, she said: "One of the things that the government has done was established something called Flood Re, it's an insurance scheme that makes sure everybody in this country can get their homes, their houses protected, regardless of what flooding has happened there.

"So that's been a significant change that only came in about eight years ago. We will continue to make sure that's the case, that people can insure their homes in the future."

She added: "That's where the insurance will kick in to help them get back into their homes I hope as quickly as possible, I'm conscious for some of them, depending on the impacts, it may take several months."

Residents have been speaking of the panic and despair they felt after Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service advised properties in several roads in Retford to evacuate.

These included residents in Darrel Road, Swans Quay, Gala Way, Maun Close, Meden Way, New Inn Walk and Thrumpton Close.

Jodi Savastio, who lives in Meden Way, Thrumpton, said she was "anxious" about the damage that could be caused to her property.

She told BBC Radio Nottingham: "In the night I walked down the street and there was a big puddle but it wasn't anywhere near people's houses.

"The drains in the road just started filling up. I went out the back and the river had risen that high it wiped the whole garden out.

"The street is an absolute flood zone - it's like a lake. It's 6ft deep in our back garden.

"The water has got into the conservatory and I'd say there's about four inches of water and another two inches in the house.

"The levels are rising - I'm worried about this. It's going to take over the house. I've lived here three years and never seen anything like this before."

The Idle, which feeds into the River Trent, reached record levels as water from heavy rainfall in previous days made its way towards Retford.

The Environment Agency has spent much of the past 24 hours pumping water from the Idle into the nearby canal.

A rest centre was set up at Retford Leisure Centre but was stood down at about 21:00 BST as most affected residents had made other arrangements.

Mansfield MP and leader of the county council Ben Bradley has defended the decision to close the centre, which he explained was not an overnight accommodation but somewhere for the residents to rest.

He said: "I'm not aware of anybody who has suggested that they actually had needed the rest centre overnight.

"As it stands, it appears nobody was adversely affected by the decision, as it had already been understood that those in need had made their own arrangements."

North Wheatley Primary School, just a few miles away from Retford, has had to rip up flooring and skirting boards.

Head teacher Heather Thomson said it was "heartbreaking" to see the damage but paid tribute to the community.

"The road was already flooded on Friday morning so it was all hands on deck," she said.

"The community was amazing and we managed to move a lot of equipment into the hall which is a little higher. After that it was a question of just seeing what happened.

"It's not the first time this has happened and it won't be the last, so we had a good emergency plan in place."

Due to its history of flooding, the school's electrics are fitted into the roof, but Mrs Thomson said she wanted tougher flooring that ran further up the walls.

The school has also launched an online fundraiser, which has so far received more than £1,500 in donations, to pay for replacement equipment while they wait for the result of insurance claims.

Water levels in the town started to fall overnight but the peak was moving towards Newark.

Lowdham, a village near Nottingham, was swamped by torrential rain at around midday on Friday.

Resident John Lane was flooded out in 2020 and repairs then cost about £100,000.

He said this time was worse with "at least a foot of water" in his house.

"The biggest priority is to find somewhere to live," he said.

"But obviously everything on that level has been affected.

"I'm fine but my eldest son had a bit of a realisation yesterday as he had bought himself some new clothes on Thursday night and they were in his bottom draw.

"It's just a silly thing, a little thing but that really hit him."

Mr Bradley said flood-hit communities in Nottinghamshire would get help to rebuild.

"There's a recovery period, there are roads still closed with debris in the road, there is a lot of work still to do," the MP said.

"We will look at the aftermath of all of that at what lessons could and should have been learned as we always do.

"But for now the priority is supporting residents in the time of need and crisis."

MP for Bassetlaw Brendan Clarke-Smith has been in Worksop and Retford over the weekend.

He estimated "a few hundred" people had been forced to leave their homes.

"It was really devastating," he said.

"I was there in some people's houses and the water was coming up to your waist.

"It was flooding people's kitchens, it was in their back gardens and they were desperately trying to get cars parked somewhere else.

"It has just been dreadful."

He also highlighted a county council hardship fund, which was available to residents and small businesses.

Meanwhile, following strong winds and heavy rainfall in Derbyshire, three "danger to life" warnings that were in Derby were lifted on Sunday morning.

The Canal and River Trust has also warned people to stay away from flooded tow paths, as they have had reports of walkers and cyclists falling into the water.

Dozens of people across the county were evacuated, including 20 people at a care home in Duffield, while elsewhere cars were submerged in water.

But East Midlands Railway said it was expecting to run most services as normal after disruption at the weekend.

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