The Environment Agency will investigate why the unprecedented flooding in Grantham this week was so devastating. Water from the River Witham seeped into homes and businesses along Belton Lane on Monday, January 6, while Wyndham Park was completely submerged.
Local residents said they had never seen anything like it before, and homeowners are still counting the cost. While there are flood defences across the river, the flooding occurred in a matter of minutes.
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “We have seen widespread rain leading to flooding across Lincolnshire over the past week. We understand that the River Witham has overtopped its banks in Grantham and a flood warning was issued for the area.
Residents used sandbags, gravel and whatever they could find to try and stop the floodwater
(Image: Laycie Beck)
“Our teams have been out on the ground, taking action to reduce the impact of flooding and support those communities affected. We will be investigating the causes and impact of flooding in due course.
“We continue to advise people to stay away from swollen rivers and urge people not to drive through flood water, as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car.”
Firefighters working on Belton Lane, Grantham
(Image: Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service)
Around 200 homes were flooded across the county. The Lincolnshire Resilience Forum, which prepares for large-scale disasters, says water levels are now receding.
It said in a statement on Wednesday (January 8): “As water levels start to return to normal the focus has shifted from dealing with the impact as a major incident to looking at how the LRF can provide recovery and support for those who were affected.
Vehicles going through flood water in Grantham
“While we still expect to see high water levels in some areas, the situation is expected to continue to improve in coming days as water levels are dropping and no rain is forecast.”
A multi-agency group has been set up to help victims recover from the flooding. Advice and support for anyone affected can be found on the LRF website.