County put on flood alert as roads closed
Homes are on flood alert after three days of torrential rain – with more on the way.
Several roads have already been closed after 1.51 inches (38.4mm) of rain fell in three days, more than half the normal rainfall expected for the whole of November.
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The downpour forced the Phoenix Arts Centre, Leicester, to close for three days after water poured through its roof.
City council staff have also been filling sandbags as a precaution.
Forecasters say the heavy rain will continue during the week.
Villagers in Frisby-on-the Wreake, near Melton, are hoping they can avoid a repeat of bad floods that damaged many homes 10 years ago.
Red Weaver, 65, who lives in a mill house next to the Wreake, has seen his garden turned into a lake.
Twice in 10 years, his house has flooded. He said he is now prepared with piles of sandbags at the ready.
He said: "We've been through this before. I have had all the floors tiled and all the electricity plugs moved.
"The worst part is when you get sewage and all sorts of toxic waste in there."
Fellow villager Kate Lalley, 73, also has made memories of the previous flood which saw water, a foot high, in her living room.
She said: "It's a bit nerve-wracking knowing that it could flood again."
Water poured through the roof of Phoenix Arts on Saturday night causing damage to the main auditorium
All screenings at the Newarke Street cinema have been cancelled since Sunday.
The theatre was without power yesterday after fears the electrics were damaged by the water, but it was later found they had not been affected.
A clean-up operation has taken place, with part of the auditorium and front of house needing to be dried out.
The cinema, cafe and bar is expected to reopen tomorrow.
Marketing officer Alex Barrett said: "There was a problem with some drainage in the roof, the water got in and pooled in several areas.
"It has been mopped up, but we are still checking everything is dry.
"We're not sure how much this has cost, but obviously we have lost the takings from about a dozen of screenings we have had to cancel."
Roads closed yesterday by flooding were Slash Lane and Mountsorrel Lane, Sileby; Sileby Lane, Mountsorrel; Cossington Lane, Rothley; Broome Lane, East Goscote; Rearsby Road, Thrussington; and Braunstone Lane East, Leicester.
Police said they had dealt with flooding at Crow Mill, South Wigston, in Middleton Street, Aylestone, and in Bosworth Lane, Newbold Verdon.
An Environment Agency spokeswoman said it had issued a flood alert and six flood watches for across the county.
So far 2.59in (65.8 mm) rain has fallen in November. The average rainfall for the month of November is normally 2.25in (56 mm)
Mercury weatherman Dave Mutton said: "That's a colossal amount of rain and there's more to come. It will be very unsettled with more showers."
8 Comments
by mr P.L.Wright, syston
Tuesday, November 11 2008, 3:55PM
“we are in flood planewe livein a valley if river are full then it wil flood it asno were else to go”
by K, Leicester
Tuesday, November 11 2008, 3:41PM
“Was driving ho,e from Leicester city centre late on Saturday night and I must have counted at least 6 blocked drains, all in the city boundary. The roads were flooded as a result. Maybe the city council's street cleaning department should attempt to keep these drains clear on a daily basis or is that asking too much?”
by rich, loughborough
Tuesday, November 11 2008, 3:09PM
“@Barrow boy
I think you have a good point here.”
by rich, loughborough
Tuesday, November 11 2008, 3:05PM
“would even help if the post van didnt block the main road through at a random time between 5 and 5.30 every day without fail....”
by Barrow boy, BOS
Tuesday, November 11 2008, 1:45PM
“For years the bridge in/out of Barrow allowed traffic to cross upon it. Then I understand the council were worried about two heavy vehicles potentially crossing on the bridge as it might not cope with the load. As a result it appointed traffic lights. Later when the bypass was built a 7.5t vehicle weight limited was introduced to the village. Surely if this is correct the lights could be removed as the risk of two heavy vechicles being on that bridge at the same time is minimal. Just a thought.”
by rich, loughborough
Tuesday, November 11 2008, 12:45PM
“It's fairly obvious that the county council has completely ignored the flood prone roads of north leicestershire. Meadow lane, slash lane, the raod between syston and rothley near cossington.
The roads only need to be raised a foot at most, probably with some pipe underneath to allow the flow of flood water.
Barrow needs something done to prevent it being such a rat run. There's been a large land grab in barrow yet they dont seem to have done anything about the lack of a simple 2 way street to and fromt he A6.
Loughborough itself is part of the problem as people use the barrow rat run because loughborough is very snarled up and congested. It really cant be THAT difficult.”
by chrisf, knighton
Tuesday, November 11 2008, 11:56AM
“Is this the waterside living that's being planned for Leicester?”
by Stranded in Sileby, Sileby
Tuesday, November 11 2008, 10:20AM
“Of course Slash Lane is closed and of course we all have to sit in lines of traffic and go the 'long way around' to try and get anywhere other than Seagrave. Im sure the peopel of Barrow love having lines of cars stopping and starting outside their houses.
When will the traffic and highway planners realise that it would be worth 3 months of disruption to raise the road between Sileby/ Mountsorrel and the A6? I'd gladly sell one of my kidneys to help fund it.
We put man on the moon in 1960 - but we cant even get 2 miles out of a Leicestershire village if it so much as looks like rain!
Madness.”