THE COMMUNITY spirit shown during the city’s flood crisis has been fantastic according to the head of the area’s policing.
South Worcestershire’s superintendent, Mark Travis, who was one of the key figures in organising flood relief efforts and strategy across Worcester said he had seen everyone pull together as the floodwaters rose to record levels.
Dozens of homes have flooded in the city since the start of the month and as the water begins to recede a huge clean up operation is underway.
But Supt Travis said he had been heartened by the response of everyone involved.
“Worcester has really pulled together,” he said.
“We’ve had fantastic support from all the agencies, the public have got behind us and are helping each other, and I would like to thank people for all the help and support we have had.
“People coming together, working hard, being appreciative and understanding around things like congestion makes our lives so much easier and it really is one of the best aspects of Worcester that people pull together and support each other.”
Despite flood water rising 5cm higher than in 2007, council bosses believe sufficient planning and infrastructure have seen the city run smoother this time around.
Following the devastation of seven years ago, the current government has spent £200million more on flood defences than the Labour government did during its last four years in office.
Many residents have also taken it upon themselves to install barriers to try and counteract future damage, something Duncan Sharkey, managing director of the city council, believed was vital.
“We’ve had fewer properties flooded and fewer locations flooded than 2007,” he said. “A lot of the work we’ve undertaken, and actually residents themselves have undertaken, has made a big difference.
“There’s a lot more properties dry now than there were in 2007 and I think that’s because we’ve planned the resilience over a long period but what we need to do is re-double our efforts in those very difficult to defend properties.
“I have to pay credit to people in Worcester, a lot of people have taken issue themselves and gone and sorted out what they wanted to do.”
