The message to Gloucestershire victims from flood guru David

Davenport to get things done is simple… form a group and keep

pestering your council until they do something about it.

Mr Davenport, who co-ordinates the Flood Action Group for

the Dunhill Estate in East Leeds, has, along with many others

on the estate, suffered much the same heartache as those

affected in Gloucestershire.

There, an innocuous little brook called the Wyke beck that

runs through the bottom of many of their gardens, has been the

cause of all the problems.

“We have flooded badly in this area three times in the past

four years,” Mr Davenport said. “It has never happened before

and we have had bigger downpours, so it's a bit odd.

“The beck can rise 10ft in 20 minutes which is extraordinary

and the last time it washed away the base of my garage and we

had 2ft of water in the house.

“Technically, each homeowner is responsible for their part

of the Beck but everyone realises that is unrealistic because

some people are elderly and just can't.

“At first no one would admit responsibility for anything but

I just kept plugging away and Leeds Council and the Environment

Agency started to listen.

“The beck is now classed as a major river and the

Environment Agency has taken on board that we are not causing

the problem so they have some responsibility to deal with

it.

“Now I feel like I am working with them rather than against

them and they invite me to all flood meetings so it's a massive

step in the right direction.

“It's the only way. What I would say to people in

Gloucestershire is that you need to all get together and keep

going until you get what you want.

“It's not all going to get done tomorrow, it might take some

years, but just keep applying the pressure and you'll get there

eventually.”

In June last year, a month before the floods hit

Gloucestershire, the Dunhill Estate was chosen as one of six

pilot areas where money was made available to protect

homes.

On the estate, which had about 150 homes affected, only 68

were able to benefit from the grant that gave them between

£2,000 and £4,000 each. Essentially, expensive flood guards

were provided to be fitted to their doors simply and

quickly.

But there has been a mixed response to the scheme. Mr

Davenport said: “They are not the answer to everything but at

least if the rain is coming you can fit them and they give you

a certain sense of security.

“But what really needs to be done is getting the watercourse

sorted so that the Wyke beck does not flood in the first

place.”

Sean Melvin, 38, who lives in the same street as Mr

Davenport, said: “I like having them because you feel like they

buy you a bit of time.

“Sadly, though, they are not going to stop water coming

through the floor.” Others on the estate who have benefited

from the scheme feel the money could have been spent better

elsewhere. George and Maureen Somersgill had water chest-deep

around their property last summer after the Wyke beck again

flooded. Mr Somersgill, 76, said: “I have lived on this estate

all my life and used to play in the Wyke beck and there has

never been anything like this even though we have had heavier

downpours.

“Having these flood guards are a waste of money. The money

would be better spent on sorting out the long-term solution

which is the Wyke beck.

“New builds near the beck need to be looked at because they

are obviously causing a problem.

“At the moment these houses are impossible to insure and

impossible to sell. Until the area stops flooding that will

always remain the case.”

Elizabeth Bligh, also 76, said: “The flood guards are

hopeless. They cost a lot of money but the rain can get in the

top so water can still get into the house.

“A house worth £180,000 sold for just £80,000 recently. It

is a ridiculous situation and needs to be sorted out.”

Local councillor Jacqueline Langdale said: “It's been an

incredibly tough time for everyone but the community here is

very strong and has pulled together.

“There is no doubt that the bigger picture needs to be

addressed and there needs to be joined up thinking between the

agencies involved.

“But any other more minor solutions such as the offer from

Defra should also be taken advantage of when they are

presented.”

So would residents in Gloucestershire be interested if Defra

was able to extend the scheme, or do they want to see any

available money put towards a long-term solution?

Eve Carter, 95, from Boddington in Cheltenham, saw the

ground floor of her home wrecked by the devastating floods and

spent months in a caravan.

She said: “The best thing is for any available money to go

towards preventing floods.

“Flood guards here wouldn't do me an awful lot of good

because it comes up through the floor so I'd rather it went

towards doing something about the drains and the ditches.”

Julie Irwin, from Canterbury Leys in Tewkesbury, spent 10

months in a caravan after the floods. She said: “I still can't

get settled which is a shame because I have been looking

forward to getting back in.

“I had heard of the Defra grants but I feel that I would

rather see the money being pooled and spent on the bigger

picture.

“Until the cause of the flooding is dealt with none of us in

certain parts of the country will be able to sell our

houses.”