Liberal Democrat Councillor for Stansted North on Uttlesford District Council and former Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group Learn more
by Alan Dean on 7 February, 2014
Flooding in Stansted today has been the worst in about 10 years. More rain is expected tonight. Premises in Lower Street were devastated when the road became a river before dawn this morning. Kings Butchers has probably lost most of his stock and expects to be shut for more than a week. The Queen’s Head public house was mopping out the bar late afternoon after the fire brigade had pumped out the cellar from being full of water to ceiling and pavement level. Yeoman’s café has been washed out, whilst the adjoining Store 18 gentlemen’s outfitters saw much of its stock and elegant fittings damaged. The water even permeated into the bar area of the higher building of the Stansted Mountfitchet Social Club. Chimneys Guest House received a dousing. Many cellars had to be pumped out.
There was anger early this morning at drivers who ploughed through the water at speed and created bow waves that washed into premises that may otherwise have escaped damage. The police have been asked to control traffic of there is a repeat of the floods tonight and tomorrow.
The main source of the flooding is Ugley Brook which descends towards Lower Street from the B1383. It was dry yesterday. This morning it was a raging torrent so strong that the culvert under Lower Street, and which emerges into Stansted Brook near the railway, simply could not take the volume of water. Debris which blocks the grill at the entrance to the culvert aggravates the situation. There are issues about the management of the grill, which is regularly cleared of debris by civic-minded, neighbouring residents.
Uttlesford District Council’s emergency team issued this notice today.
The parish council’s limited stock of sandbags was distributed late this morning in case there is further flooding, but it was not available to help reduce the impact of today’s flood because no one knew it was coming. If this winter’s weather is to be an increasing trend, I think better contingency plans and equipment need to be put in place. We may not be the Somerset Levels here in Essex, but the effect on individual people and businesses has been devastating just as the economy was coming strongly out of recession.
2 Comments
Hi,
Has the Ugley Brook maintenance ownership been resolved yet? I was staying at my sisters in Lower Street last night when they weather forecast came on indicating that rain was likely to which she asked her partner to go and check that tho grate at th Ugley Brook was clear of debris. We took a look and it appeared to be ok (there was quite a bit of vegetation growing which I would think requires removal). Is it any clearer which agency should be taking ownership of the management of this?
May I suggest that you phone Stansted Parish Council for details on 01279 813214 for the latest information?