We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
Debate House Prices
In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non MoneySaving matters are no longer permitted. This includes wider debates about general house prices, the economy and politics. As a result, we have taken the decision to keep this board permanently closed, but it remains viewable for users who may find some useful information in it. Thank you for your understanding.
Floods
Comments
-
Not really sure that the first thought of those affected by floods in Henley on Thames would be to blame the gay marriage bill.
UKIP's standard response now seems to be to distance themselves from comments like this whilst defending the right of their representatives to make them.
What about the residents of Glasgow in 2002? Boscastle in 2004? Cumbria in 2005? Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, West Midlands, Yorkshire and Northern Ireland in 2007? Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway in 2009? Cornwall in 2010? Sussex, Lancashire, Cumbria and Tyneside in 2012? Or others? Catastrophic flooding does seem to be on the increase, but it's not a sudden thing since the bill, it's been getting gradually more frequent for years.Do you know anyone who's bereaved? Point them to https://www.AtaLoss.org which does for bereavement support what MSE does for financial services, providing links to support organisations relevant to the circumstances of the loss & the local area. (Link permitted by forum team)
Tyre performance in the wet deteriorates rapidly below about 3mm tread - change yours when they get dangerous, not just when they are nearly illegal (1.6mm).
Oh, and wear your seatbelt. My kids are only alive because they were wearing theirs when somebody else was driving in wet weather with worn tyres.
0 -
What about the residents of Glasgow in 2002? Boscastle in 2004? Cumbria in 2005? Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, West Midlands, Yorkshire and Northern Ireland in 2007? Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway in 2009? Cornwall in 2010? Sussex, Lancashire, Cumbria and Tyneside in 2012? Or others? Catastrophic flooding does seem to be on the increase, but it's not a sudden thing since the bill, it's been getting gradually more frequent for years.
I think our UKIP chap might explain these previous floods as divine warnings about homosexuality that went unheeded. Maybe the bill was the straw that broke the camel's back and God, not being busy, decided to take it out on Henley.0 -
I think our UKIP chap might explain these previous floods as divine warnings about homosexuality that went unheeded. Maybe the bill was the straw that broke the camel's back and God, not being busy, decided to take it out on Henley.
Yes. If the God to which this MP refers existed, then I'm sure he would have joined UKIP. And indeed he may have used his powers of divine retribution against such a heathen as Cameron....He went on to say that no man, however powerful "can mess with Almighty God with impunity and get away with it".
But I think such retribution would have been rather more directly aimed at the villain (Cameron) rather then huge swathes of the population who have suffered from the floods.
I strongly suspect Cameron is now re-thinking the rise in Minimum Wage. He's bound to drop it. If not, then make no mistake, this summer will be ruined by plagues of locusts.0 -
Catastrophic flooding does seem to be on the increase, but it's not a sudden thing since the bill, it's been getting gradually more frequent for years.
Flooding didn't start in 2002.
However 24 news coverage probably did.1952: Flood devastates Devon village
Twelve bodies have been recovered and 24 people are missing feared dead in the flood which has swept through Lynmouth in north Devon.
The normally picturesque holiday village was evacuated early today as troops and council workers were brought in to begin clearing the devastation.
Hundreds of people have been left homeless. There is no water, gas or electricity supply. All the boats in the harbour have been washed out to sea. Four main road bridges have been swept away.
The flood followed yesterday's torrential rain. In the 24 hours before, some nine inches (22.9cm) of rain had fallen on Exmoor, just four miles (6.4km) away.0 -
Thrugelmir wrote: »Flooding didn't start in 2002.
However 24 news coverage probably did.
True. But a list of "floods before 2012" has to start somewhere, and 10 years previously seemed a good place to start. Has it been getting more frequent over the last few decades, or am I just more aware of it now that I live somewhere more flood-prone than where I grew up?Do you know anyone who's bereaved? Point them to https://www.AtaLoss.org which does for bereavement support what MSE does for financial services, providing links to support organisations relevant to the circumstances of the loss & the local area. (Link permitted by forum team)
Tyre performance in the wet deteriorates rapidly below about 3mm tread - change yours when they get dangerous, not just when they are nearly illegal (1.6mm).
Oh, and wear your seatbelt. My kids are only alive because they were wearing theirs when somebody else was driving in wet weather with worn tyres.0 -
Loughton_Monkey wrote: »There is no science (that I know of) that would suggest that water can simply "disappear" by being soaked away under trees. It must go somewhere, although I can well understand that the soaking could delay things for a number of days, perhaps preventing some 'flash flooding'.
......
It will depend on the nature of the underlying geology. I am no expert either but I do know that some areas are based on impermeable rock and diverting water under soil in those areas will not help much. However, other soils are over permeable rocks (such as limestone) which will allow water to penetrate quite a distance and find underground caves and rivers well below the surface. This soil and the limestone can retain water for considerable periods as it soaks down through the soil.Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are incapable of forming such opinions.0 -
Loughton_Monkey wrote: »
My general impression is that years ago, when canals and rivers were used for transport, cargo, fishing boat traffic etc., there was always a healthy 'dredging' industry that kept waterways free of silt. This no longer happens. Many of our natural soakaways (canals and rivers) are so silted up that they do not provide drainage any more.
.
http://www.floodpreventionsociety.org.uk/fullreport.html
Not sure about the credibility of the Flood Prevention Society but their report seems to make a lot of sense and agrees with you: solution is stop messing around with encouraging bio-diversity in rivers and canals and buy more dredgers.Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are incapable of forming such opinions.0 -
Thrugelmir wrote: »Flooding didn't start in 2002.
However 24 news coverage probably did.
You missed out the bit where they pushed the Lynmouth lifeboat up Countisbury Hill, and then down Porlock Hill so they could launch it at Porlock.
By far the most interesting and heroic part of that story.'In nature, there are neither rewards nor punishments - there are Consequences.'0 -
http://www.floodpreventionsociety.org.uk/fullreport.html
Not sure about the credibility of the Flood Prevention Society but their report seems to make a lot of sense and agrees with you: solution is stop messing around with encouraging bio-diversity in rivers and canals and buy more dredgers.
Looks to me like a report that may make sense. They have clearly done their homework and eliminated "more rain" from any possibility of the cause. Or so-called "Global Warming".
I keep hearing of all these houses being build on "flood plains".
This confuses me a lot. I think this could be 'loose language' just like our green and pleasant countryside is often confused as "green belt", when it is no such thing.
My own understanding of "flood plain" is a low lying area of land into which local rivers are deliberately engineered to flow into, once they reach a certain level. By definition, the land chosen for this has no houses whatsever on it, otherwise they wouldn't allow a flood plain there.
I have relatives living in an area of Cambridgeshire where local flooding caused the council eventually to build a flood plain. It appears to have been 100% successful and houses simply don't get flooded any more.
Much to the annoyance of local residents, though, the area in question (when flooded after high rainfall) receives visits from all these television cameras and stupid presenters proving that there has been flooding, by showing 2 or 3 feet of water ... er.... by design... in the floodplain and nowhere near local houses.0 -
Loughton_Monkey wrote: »I keep hearing of all these houses being build on "flood plains".
This confuses me a lot. I think this could be 'loose language' just like our green and pleasant countryside is often confused as "green belt", when it is no such thing.
My own understanding of "flood plain" is a low lying area of land into which local rivers are deliberately engineered to flow into, once they reach a certain level. By definition, the land chosen for this has no houses whatsever on it, otherwise they wouldn't allow a flood plain there..
The planning authorities define a floodplain in terms of the probability of a flood event. There is a presumption against developments on a floodplain which implies it may be allowed in some circumstances. Also the definition takes account of current flood defences in the area.
http://www.planningni.gov.uk/index/policy/policy_publications/planning_statements/pps15/pps15_planning_policies/pps15_policy_fld1/pps15_definition_flood_plain.htm
This is perhaps an indication of what can go wrong:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/hands-off-our-land/9716075/Why-were-these-houses-built-on-a-flood-plain.html
Edit the planning one is from the NI portal - not sure if the rest of UK is same but it probably is.Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are incapable of forming such opinions.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 350K Banking & Borrowing
- 252.7K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.1K Spending & Discounts
- 243K Work, Benefits & Business
- 619.9K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.5K Life & Family
- 255.9K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- Read-Only Boards