We're coming home at last

7:09pm Saturday 19th July 2008

Comments (1)   Have your say »

GOING home has not been an option for Gareth and Sheila Hawkes for the last 12 months.

That is because ever since last summer's floods hit the couple's four-bed Covingham home has been in such a state that they have not been able to go back.

"I had to leave my home on July 20 and have not yet returned," said 50-year-old Gareth.

"It has been difficult but we've got on with things. We're one of the last to move back in."

He said it took so long for loss adjusters to inspect their home that they were soon at the back of the insurance claim queue.

Gareth, who works in Newbury, has been staying in Lambourn with his wife.

They had been flooded before - in 1985 and again in 2000 - but 2007 was the worst.

His home was nearly submerged again just a month ago after heavy rain on June 3.

Now Gareth is so fed up with the lack of progress made he has started a campaign group called the Dorcan Brook Flood Victim Action Group to get their voices heard.

"My home, as well as 209 others, was flooded because the dam across Dorcan Brook is too small to take the water," said Gareth.

"It also has trash screens' across two small exit holes which become blocked.

"Every time it rains hard, the Environment Agency has to clear debris from the trash screens, otherwise we flood.

"The Environment Agency implied in its report that the A419 bridge was too small to take the water.

"We are starting a campaign to have the Dorcan Flood Storage Area (the dam) removed and the Wanborough Road culvert increased.

"Water enters our part of Covingham through bridges considerably larger than the dam.

"It is obvious that if more water can enter Covingham then can leave Covingham then Covingham will flood."

He is hoping petitions and media coverage will add weight to their case to have the dam removed.

Gareth will be moving back to Swindon a year and three days on from the worst weather impact on the town in recent times.

An Environment Agency spokeswoman said: "The Swindon Flood Review was not intended to imply that the A419 Bridge was too small. We will look at the wording.

"The size of the bridges does not determine the flooding in Dorcan, it is the run-off drainage from the houses along the Dorcan Brook and River Cole.

"The Flood Storage Area structure was designed to prevent additional flooding downstream when the housing along Eagle Way was built.

"We are going to remove the top half of the screen before the end of July 2008 to allow unrestricted flow."