Helston flood risk warning for weekend (From Falmouth Packet)

Helston flood risk warning for weekend

3:36pm Friday 4th December 2009

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People living in Helston have been put on flood warning this weekend.

Heavy rain over the summer and autumn has led to unusually high water levels in the River Cober and Loe Pool.

With more rain forecast for Saturday night and Sunday morning, they now threaten to burst their banks and overflow.

The Environment Agency has warned this could lead to water from Loe Pool, which is unable to be discharged through the cliff outfall into the sea, backing up into the River Cober.

This could put at least 45 homes in the area around St John’s Road and Helston Boating Lake at risk of potential flooding. The highest risk areas could be St John’s Road, St John’s Close, Almshouse Hill, the Market Area, Mill Lane, Castle Green and St John’s Business Park.

Both the Environment Agency and Cornwall Council has urged householders to take precautions to reduce the effects of flooding on themselves and their properties.

The Environment Agency is dropping leaflets into houses this afternoon warning of the potential risks of flooding and giving advice on how owners can help protect themselves and their properties.

This includes encouraging them to prepare their own sandbags and flood boards, putting them around doors and windows. These are available from builders’ merchants and other similar businesses.

Unfilled bags can be bought from Jewsons in Helston, Hayle and Illogan Highway or Travis Perkins off the Culdrose road for around 60p each, while filled ones can be got from Mitchells Sacks in Truro or Bodmin Blocks – Jim Martin in Bodmin. Cornwall Council will also have stocks of sandbags available for distribution by its staff in emergency situations – call 0300 1234 222 or 999 in extreme circumstances.

Duncan Struggles from the Environment Agency said: “It is possible that this increased level of flood risk could also continue for the next few weeks if the county continues to experience high levels of rainfall. We would urge people to stay away from Loe Pool during the weekend.

The Agency is bringing in specialist pumping equipment to help increase the amount of water being discharged from Loe Pool through the outfall onto the beach. One large pump has already been brought into the county and is currently being put together ready for use over the weekend, with three more pumps also being got hold of.

Anyone at Loe Pool and Loe Bar has been warned to act within the safety notices put up in that area.

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