Peter T Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 The Environment Agency called round yesterday, when we were out and left a card asking us to get in touch, so as to register our homes for free flood warnings. My wife rang them, and they wanted our mobile numbers and a password for security. Fair enough. I am wondering WHY they didn't use an e-mail address, as I would have thought that would be cheaper. Anyone else registered? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 Guess they must have been watching the despatches programme which specifically mentioned Warrington. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Settle Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 Pete but you carry your mobile with you so it's easier and quicker. But maybe you have email on it but not all people do yet. Perhaps they should have taken both. I did apply for a job there a couple of weeks ago but they didn't even acknowledge my application form which took a day to complete with case study etc. I do however remember a week before staging the Chris Vose 10km from Vicky Park when the River Mersey breached its banks and the track was under water. Fortunately the place drains quickly and it was okay by the Sunday otherwise I would have had a 1,000 soggy runners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legion Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 you can put your postcode to see your risk here http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/ white means your pretty damn safe, were talking biblical floods to hurt you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 According to the report in the Guardian, Warrington is the 7th worst place in the country when it comes to risk of flood. Errrr is that right? Never a year goes by without we see reports on telly of floods affecting this town or that but never have I seen Warrington making the headlines for floods. In my past work, I've had need to make use of the governments own computer model for predicting radio coverage and the results were often laughable. I suspect the same software engineer wrote the routines that gives Warrington such a soggy outlook by failing to include the Ship Canal's drainage effect in the calculations. No way on this earth is Warrington such a high-risk flood area and certainly not the seventh worst in the country. Sack the programmer and buy a new PC. You know it makes sense! [ 06.12.2007, 20:00: Message edited by: Bill ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 Originally posted by legion: you can put your postcode to see your risk here http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/ white means your pretty damn safe, were talking biblical floods to hurt you. Typed my post code in and also tried typing Warrington and all I got was a completely empty whiteish box on the screen with no map. Does that mean we are also at risk from snow blizzards or Was I supposed to see something? Anyway if Warrington is now officially noted as the 7th highest on the flood list will that affect all our home insurances once insurance companies type in the WA4 prefix ? [ 06.12.2007, 21:11: Message edited by: Dismayed ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lotts Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 Just tried post code thing... Looking at the map, we are OK where we live but will get webbed feet if leave the end of the road. EEK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted December 6, 2007 Report Share Posted December 6, 2007 Time to buy a canoe, but don't forget the Life Insurance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted December 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 House insurers are already asking about flood problems around Latchford. Geoff, The reason I suggest e-mail notification is that it would save money. I would expect a gradual rise in the level of the river, rather than a tidal wave. I reckon that if the warning came by mobile, it would be too late anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Settle Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 acceppted Pete, just put my post code in and we're a good 50 meters away - phew - however the new pond on the green infornt of our house will soon be supporting ducks so it might be closer than the map indicates. I noticed last week that spittle brook had risen and broadened a lot, it's gone down again before it breached but with the forecasted rain and sodden earth of late it going to be a wet one over the next few days. - I'm off to buy a canoe before Cinnamon Brow becomes an Island & I'll have to get down to Woolston Baths to brush up on my swimming and life saving skills. [ 07.12.2007, 06:47: Message edited by: Geoff Settle ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McBain Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 The Environment Agency's maps are not based on detailed topographic survey data and so have a huge margin for error - you should be aware of this. Anyway, the Environment Agency is pushing for a ?30m flood-barrier that will supposedly mitigate the risk to much of Warrington. There are only two problems with this scheme: 1. the EA cannot afford it and it will take an awful lot of developer contributions to get close, and; 2. it won't work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reader Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 Todays story on the sale of land at Cardinal Newman, for housing amazed me as its this very spot that floods. I think in times past they used the Black Bear Canal to channel water into the Manchester Ship Canal as an overflow, from the Mersey to prevent this, alas, BB Canal was filled in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disgusted Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 Originally posted by Bill: According to the report in the Guardian, Warrington is the 7th worst place in the country when it comes to risk of flood. Errrr is that right? Never a year goes by without we see reports on telly of floods affecting this town or that but never have I seen Warrington making the headlines for floods. In my past work, I've had need to make use of the governments own computer model for predicting radio coverage and the results were often laughable. I suspect the same software engineer wrote the routines that gives Warrington such a soggy outlook by failing to include the Ship Canal's drainage effect in the calculations. No way on this earth is Warrington such a high-risk flood area and certainly not the seventh worst in the country. Sack the programmer and buy a new PC. You know it makes sense! I'm sure this is deja vu, could have sworn I'd already read this this morning :crazy: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 Be interesting to see what advice Solicitors give to new house buyers, having charged them a fee for conveyancing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Settle Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 That's there business they're just trying to make an honest buck, just ask the Councillor with the initials after his name about the integrity of the profession. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 Are you really so naive Geoff, or is it just an affectation?! Folk buying houses pay a lot of doe for Solicitors to properly search for problems relating to their purchase, including flood risks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 Fatshaft Yes it?s a game of spot the difference but there?s no prizes. Reader The Mersey doesn?t need the black bare canal to help drainage because it runs directly through the Manchester Ship Canal. So if push comes to shove the sluice gate could be opened at Latchford locks that would effectively turn off the Mersey thus preventing flooding. I think the only way we can flood badly is a combination of prolonged heavy rain coupled with high tides. Mcbain 30 million seems cheap for a Mersey Barrage or have I got that bit wrong and also how do you know it won?t work if the EA think it will. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Settle Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 Well said Bill, at the last Warrington Cinservation Forum Group meeting someone from the EA gave a talk on why Warrington had escaped this year. It was as you say down to the Manchester Canal acting as a drainage system. By the way its our AGM tomorrow at Risley Moss, 10am. And OBs as for solicitors they proabaly use the search facilities of my old bosses wife who has one of the local franchises. [ 07.12.2007, 13:01: Message edited by: Geoff Settle ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McBain Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 Given that the Manchester Ship Canal acts as a giant over-flow drainage regulator for much of Warrington, why does the Council go out of its way to annoy the Ship Canal Company? Be hilarious if MSCC stopped taking water from overflow drains and said "Okay, WBC, it's your water - you deal with it!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Sid Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 we would probably end up with a water shortage and a hosepipe ban Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne-Marie Posted December 7, 2007 Report Share Posted December 7, 2007 Certain areas are more liable than others and I think the fact that Warrington is in a valley heavily influences the flood risk. I live in Dallam and almost back on to Sankey Brook (there is a another row of houses between us and the brook). A few years ago we DID flood and ended up with about 3 foot of water in our garden. Fortunately because we are on a bit of a rise our house was safe but the ones behind suffered greatly. The problem was not the water coming over the bank but water flowing back up the drains instead of the other way round. Since then there has been a pumping station put in to make sure this does not happen again and so far it hasn't but it we are still classed as a flood risk because of where we are!!!! That's life I suppose and as we knew we were close to the brook when we moved here we just keep a close eye on the water levels and move things upstairs if we think there is a danger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Sid Posted December 8, 2007 Report Share Posted December 8, 2007 you must be a tad concerned at the moment as the brook at our end had burst its banks yesterday and is still pretty swollen at present. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne-Marie Posted December 8, 2007 Report Share Posted December 8, 2007 keeping a close eye on it and getting the wellies and waders ready. No seriously hoping the pumping station keeps on doing its job which it appears to be doing so far. If our house gets waterlogged then I am off to drier climes cos we will have had some serious rainfall and my feet will be suffering from trench foot!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Settle Posted December 8, 2007 Report Share Posted December 8, 2007 Someone in the know made a comment today that because the restrictions have been lifted along the Manchester Ship Canal the wash from the ships was starting to erode the banks. If this continues then the banks will give way and hey presto flooding. So maybe we're not as safe as we think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted December 8, 2007 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2007 Geoff, They crawl down the canal, and don't seem to create anymore wash than they have always done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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