Record rainfall causes River Dee to flood farmers fields in Farndon near Chester

Dec 3 2009 by Ben Coulbeck, Chester Chronicle

FARMERS fields were flooded with water from the River Dee after the wettest November on record.

Land at Farndon, used for growing maize and grass for silage, was covered with floodwater although there have been no reports of damage caused to homes or businesses.

Michael Barnston, who lives in neighbouring village Crewe-by-Farndon, said that flooding in the area was a regular event and that local people had now accepted it as a part of life.

He said: “It happens every year so it is something we all know about and the farmers seem to work around it.

“At least it means that nobody will consider building opposite us, you have to look at the positives.”

He added: “The floods are an annual event and they are no surprise but perhaps this year is slightly worse than others.

“I am thinking about sending an invoice to the Environment Agency for storage!”

The Met Office reported that an average of 217.4mm of rain fell across the UK during November and that a stationary Atlantic weather front over the North West could explain the sharp rise in river levels.

Cheshire West and Chester Council assured residents, who live close to the county’s water network, that they were monitoring the situation and that emergency plans were in place.

A CWaC spokesperson said: “We are in regular contact with the Environment Agency and if homes were threatened, emergency procedures would be implemented.”

If any residents are concerned about floods or any other environmental emergency, call CWaC’s joint Cheshire emergency planning team on 01244 973869.