Residents of Flooded Park Homes Cleared for Return

Occupants of park homes, displaced due to a river overflowing its banks after heavy rainfall from Storm Bert, are now permitted to reoccupy their residences. The main electricity supply at Iford Bridge Home Park was disconnected on Monday evening, coinciding with an advisory for residents to evacuate as water levels in the River Stour increased. Firefighters conducted a rescue operation on Tuesday, assisting 12 individuals and four dogs from their inundated homes within the park situated close to Bournemouth. According to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council, power has been restored after safety inspections, and “it is safe for residents to return to their homes if they wish to do so.” The council stated its intention to reach out to residents who had been evacuated from the location to provide them with this latest information. Individuals re-entering their residences are being cautioned to inspect all their electrical appliances. An emergency rest centre, managed by the council, had been established to accommodate these residents, alongside individuals from two additional park home communities situated along the River Stour. The Lower Stour area at Iford Bridge Home Park continues to be subject to a flood warning issued by the Environment Agency (EA), a status shared with nine other locations. The EA reported that river levels are now decreasing “to a level where water is no longer threatening park homes.” It further noted, “However, water may remain around properties for some time.” For further updates, BBC Dorset can be followed on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.