Tenbury Wells Resident’s Flood Ordeal Amidst National Warning of Rising Flood Risk

Joan Lumley, an 81-year-old retired teacher, has experienced three floods at her cottage in central Tenbury Wells since relocating there five years prior. After investing £11,000 in repairs for her Worcestershire residence, she desires to relocate closer to her son but faces difficulty in securing a purchaser. “It’s very stressful because you feel you can’t move on,” she said. “I feel trapped.” Ms. Lumley’s comments coincided with the release of an Environment Agency report, which cautioned that up to eight million properties in England—equivalent to one in four—might face flood risks by 2050 due to climate change. She noted that businesses were departing Tenbury Wells due to difficulties in obtaining insurance. “It could become a ghost town,” she cautioned. Mary Long-Dhonau, a campaigner advocating for flood resilience, concurred with this assessment. She characterized existing flood defenses nationwide as “woefully inadequate” and stated that Tenbury Wells required substantial financial investment to construct protective barriers against flooding. “Unless they get them now, it is going to become…the first victim of climate change,” she said. “And we really can’t let that happen.” The government has recognized that numerous communities face flood risks. Floods Minister Emma Hardy stated, “That is why we have committed £2.4bn over the next two years to maintain, repair and build flood defences to protect communities across the country.” Ms. Long-Dhonau expressed a desire for a collaborative effort between Tenbury Wells and Hebden Bridge, a West Yorkshire town that also experienced Storm Bert last month. She noted that business proprietors in Hebden Bridge have endeavored to make their establishments “flood recoverable,” resulting in significantly enhanced resilience. “We could learn a lot from each other,” she remarked. However, for Joan Lumley, such initiatives might arrive belatedly. “I just want these flood defences,” she stated. “They may not be perfect and they may not stop it all but my goodness they would help.” For further updates, follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.