Pub struggles to stay afloat on UK’S most flooded road
BRITAIN’S most flooded road is underwater again, and it has now been submerged for 86 days this winter.
The A1101 Welney Wash Road in Norfolk flooded after the River Delph burst its banks. It reopened briefly last week before renewed flooding caused it to close again on Saturday, marking the longest period the road has been closed.
The continual closures throughout the winter have angered locals as they are forced to make a lengthy 22-mile diversion.
Gina Birch, the proprietor of the Lamb and Flag pub for the past 25 years, said the closure has been having a negative impact on local businesses.
She told Mailonline: “With other factors like the cost of living overheads, this just compounds the crisis of trying to keep the pub sustainable.
“Having the road flooded we lose 60 per cent of our trade overall. It hit us through the Christmas period and our view is that long term, this is only going to be a problem that’s going to increase.”
Several vehicles have attempted the crossing, despite water levels reaching almost 4ft.
In February, emergency services were called out to rescue a lorry that was stranded in 3ft of water. Three crews were in attendance for nearly 90 minutes in the early hours of the morn- ing. The man was rescued without needing medical attention.
The River Delph in Norfolk frequently burst its banks during one of the region’s wettest winters, as the county saw 106.4mm of rainfall in February, beating the previous record of 95.2mm.
Residents have formed a flood watch group, calling on the council to take
action to stop the repeated flooding. They have also suggested a bridge be built to keep traffic moving through the area.
In a statement, Norfolk county council said: “The fact is that the causes of flooding along Welney Wash Road are complex and a full set of mitigation measures would cost as much as £58 million.
“We’re looking into how such work could be funded, including via government support, but sadly there are no quick fixes for this issue.”