Uxbridge's Millstreams and the Canal.

By now I was getting bored and I drove around to the other side of Uxbridge, parked up and had a walk through the water courses.

Uxbridge is a big town full of office blocks and shops but underneath (and I mean underneath) there's a network of streams, rivers and canals.

This is the heart of 'The Colne Valley' which ends up at Colnebrook, the River Colne by us and then at Staines Moor before it flows into the Thames.

Except it isn't one river, its a collection of streams that split and combine all over the place.

At Uxbridge there were once a series of Mills, most of which have been converted to offices or restaurants. Underneath, the streams still flow even if some go through pipes every so often.

I've even tried to follow them on a map or Google Earth and failed.

Some end up flowing into The Grand Union Canal which is where I ended up walking along the towpath.

Many of the narrowboats still have traditional designs like this fine lettering;

The canals were built in the 18th century, had a short spell before the railways came along and took most of their trade.

In the 1920's, the Grand Union was created by merging several canal companies into one in an attempt to get big enough to compete and modernise.

The main branch is from London to Birmingham but this is the Oxford branch which runs through Slough and Uxbridge on its way to Town.

I stood a while on the bridge by the lock, watching the water squeezing through the lockgates;

The guy in the blue boat wasn't too sure of himself. As he left the lock he collided with the boat on his right then bounced back hitting the wall of the lock before colliding with the lock gate as he emerged.

Meanwhile he forgot about his partner who had been struggling the lock gates for him so he had to reverse into the bank which involved another collision so that he could get her back on board. She wasn't too happy about it.

Of course, I wouldn't be any better myself but it was very funny.

I like the idea of these lost streams, just as I like following the course of London's many lost rivers; The Fleet, The Tyburn, The River Moselle, The River Westbourne (Westbourne Grove!), Stanford Brook, meanwhile in South London which I don't know so well there is The River Effra (Effra Road).

Most ended up in underground drains, some are in pipes which you sometimes see when you are travelling on the Tube, under a bridge or you hear them bubbling under metal grates in the road.

Sometimes, you just see the damp in the walls of a building!

In medieval times they were important water courses, used for drinking water, sewerage or a way to catch a boat.
Life went on around them or was about getting over them without getting wet.

Now they usually end up as a drain coming out of a wall in the Thames Embankment.

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)

Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

Clearing up after Wraysbury flood.

I thought I’d take a walk around the flood area to see how the cleanup is going. On Ouseley Road most of the houses are now clear of water although not all;

 There are houses with pipes coming out of their windows, throwing water into the gutters. Here you can see the scale of the battle the residents were fighting;

 

Some flooded houses like this one were on the left side of the road (downstream), most were on the right. More modern houses are raised up, the older ones like ours are low lying and at greater risk

 

These are the fire brigade pumps, going 24 hours a day. There are fire trucks from all over the country;

These come from Tyne and Wear and Humberside and we are very grateful to them for coming down. The other day I posted a picture of a fire engine from Derbyshire. I suspect they have been taking it in turns to come down to help us for a few days before they are relieved by another area.

Next time someone like the Mayor of London wants to make more cuts to the fire service, remember that when you need them they won’t be there.

There are removal vans taking people away – there’s a woman sat on her doorstep talking on her mobile as her belongings are being loaded into a lorry. There are lorries coming to pump sewage. There are two vans from a company that offers de-humidifiers. There are three loss adjusters, looking for business. There is a police presence to stop looting and everywhere the sound of those pumps working.

I think tomorrow I’ll put up some before and after pictures.

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
contact: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com
 

Show's over, folks.

Mjgcf

Now the water levels are on the turn and no one died; the politicians have discarded their designer wellingtons, the press have moved on to the next disaster, the snappers have packed away their cameras and laptops, the satellite dishes have been dismantled and the press vans have moved on. Even the sightseers have all gone back home.

For a few days this place was the centre of the country. Front page news in all the papers, number one on the TV news. Even this Blog got a share of interest.

I’ve got a small collection of photos which document what happened. I hope I’ve been able to highlight the many acts of kindness the flood produced.

For example, my Mum needs carers twice a day. During the flood they were unable to come several times and on a number of occasions I sorted things out myself and we cancelled them to help out.

I was talking to a carer last night from the Windsor and Maidenhead Short Term Support and Rehabilitation Team. After a long shift at work, doing a difficult job, she and a number of colleagues volunteered to help out in their spare time. They visited vulnerable people in the flooded areas, going to houses by boat to help evacuations or support those who wanted to stay on.

Countless locals volunteered in the days before the politicians were shamed into helping; working non-stop for 48 hours until help eventually came.

Now the waters are retreating we’ve got a breathing space until it rains again and this Blog can go back to just being a health campaign. Things have been happening there but because people from the hospital check up on us, I’ll blog about that later.

Except that I do take time out to have a laugh or two, while I can.

The No Lips poster? That came from The Clash’s second single; ‘Complete Control’, an attack on CBS records and produced by the great Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry who was in London in 1977 to produce for Bob Marley. Great days.

PUNK

I’m going to review the gig on Saturday but it’s not going to be easy; I’ve not been able to write about Punk since I started this Blog. It’s too important to me, too raw even after 30 odd years.

It will be a real contrast; Morgellons play their own stuff, which is something I think all bands should attempt to do. No Lip are uncompromising – they want to play Punk covers and nothing else keeping it rough and raw.

It’s full of possibilities or…..not.

We’ll see how that pans out and whether I can do it justice. And whether I’m up to it…..oh yeah no doubt about that.

punk

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)    

The new look front drive that is all the rage.

Neil Harris

(a don't stop till you drop production)

Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

Derbyshire Fire Service.

More respect due – to Derbyshire Fire Service many miles from home and here to help us out;

 

 

And to the congregation of the Baptist Church (not somewhere you will ever find me) who are providing the catering for tired volunteers and emergency workers at the Flood centre;

 

It was strange walking around this morning - villagers exchanging knowing looks and smiling at each other.

We are a tough old lot.

 

News from Waterworld

This morning the water was 43 paces from our road and at 4pm it was 44 paces.

Now? At 1130pm it was 49 paces away.

I think the appropriate football chant to shout at the water is;

“You’re not singing

 You’re not singing

 You’re not singing anymore!”

 

If I’m well enough, if the flood is no worse, if….

I will be enjoying this on Saturday;

 

 

Billed as a night of "Pure Punk Rock Heaven", does anyone remember where the image comes from? (No googling now).

 

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Home:   helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

contact: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

One more flap and you're nicked sonny.

1030 am and the water is now 43 paces away from us - and moving back.

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)

Home:helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

What a difference a day makes!

2300 Hours 11 February 2014

I’m out early tonight, tired from a busy day, not feeling so well.

I walked to Ankerwycke – what a difference a day makes or perhaps what a difference shouting at a Defence Minister can make.

As I walked along the road, giant Army lorries thunder past. Sometimes there are police escorts, blue lights flashing. A fire engine.

Four wheel drive vehicles are going home – these are volunteers, off- roaders who have turned up to help. All are very welcome.

Down Ankerwycke there is a Police car to deter looters and waiting for callouts.

The water level is a few feet further up but not seriously worse than yesterday.

Across the road from us I paced out the distance from the water to the road – it’s gone back to 41 which is what it was last night.

We are in with a chance now although two inches of rain are forecast for the next couple of days.

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

Military Workout to the rescue.

1600 hours

Now we are in trouble – it’s the helicopter checking out the people across the road;

 

And then the sand bags arrived;

 

A big, big problem because I’m not up to shifting the bags we needed on my own, otherwise I’d have been down the building suppliers to get some by now.

And then something truly wonderful happened, a big group of volunteers arrived from ‘Military Workout’, a local keep fit group,  to help us out.

 

Here’s a link;

milworkout.co.uk

They humped all the bags to our front gate so that I could set them up at the front door and around the air bricks.

So, I’ve been grumbling for a while about all the vultures (media, sightseers, burglars and thieves) who have descended on our village, now some big time respect is due to a wonderful group of people who (like the off road community) have come down to help us out.

And if you are in need of a little fitness training (Fun, Fitness - Army style) you couldn't go wrong by having a word with 'Military Workout'.

Thanks, guys.

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

Official: Army invades Wraysbury!

1400 hours 11 February 2014

The water is 39 paces away from us ( 41 this morning, 42 last night).

The Defence Minister must have been given a good shouting this morning because this afternoon the Army arrived;

 

This is the High Street;

 

The road to Datchet has now been closed, only one road out left. While down at the worst of the flooding, the Environment Agency are here;

 And the media;

 

We had to shout at Mr Winchell who was filming in the middle of the road and wouldn’t get out of the way of the Army lorries, far too important to move.

 

 

We don’t need vultures coming to film us any more than we need burglars and thieves coming into the village. Could do with some sand bags, though.

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

 

 

Wraysbury - Guardian Report.

This is From The Guardian this morning;


The ramshackle, make-do-and-mend nature of flood rescue efforts in the Thames-side village of Wraysbury became apparent when a distinctive yellow amphibian tourist boat was halted by a cry for help from an inundated house.

Suddenly the team on board realised there was no dinghy in which they could go and investigate.
It fell to the only person actually wearing waders, an intrepid Sky News cameraman, to head out, leaving the remainder of the impromptu rescue squad – the owner of Windsor Duck Boat Tours and his driver, the local deputy mayor, the rest of the Sky crew and the Guardian – to hope for the best.
Luckily, the shout signalled no distress and the woman concerned was happy to remain in her home.
But assistance was needed further down Hythe End Road, a pretty cul-de-sac in the Berkshire village transformed by floods into a canal. Neighbours were worried about 88-year-old Val Shiner in case power supplies failed, leaving her without heating overnight.
Fortunately they did have a canoe and Shiner was deposited, delighted and understandably puzzled, into the vast, canary yellow tourist vehicle.
It was, Shiner said, the worst she had witnessed since the famous 1947 Thames flood.
"I didn't want to go. It was my neighbours who told me I should. I was just thinking, why let all that food spoil?"

Such near-farcical scenes illustrate what some local people view as a considerably more serious point: why, when Wraysbury was at imminent risk of severe flooding for several days, was professional help so apparently thin on the ground?

On Monday there were 14 severe flood warnings, a level indicating a possible threat to life, in place along a fairly small stretch of the Thames to the west of London.
But some places in this part of Berkshire were more fortunate than others in getting help.
The flooded edge of the main road between Windsor and Egham in Surrey was choked with fire crews, army Land Rovers and other official 4x4s, as flooded-out residents were transported, swiftly and efficiently, across the water to hotels or friends.

Graham Atkin, 64, who retired as a teacher at Christmas and has been battling floods ever since, was grateful to be rescued by fire crews from his home. "Last night it just started pouring in, pouring through the patio doors. It's frightening. It's at least four foot high in the garden. I moved what I could upstairs but I put in a new kitchen and wood floors only last year."

But back in Wraysbury it was a different story. At around the same time, one of the village's main volunteer flood wardens, Su Burrows, had been fighting the currents in deep floodwaters, helping to get her neighbours out of their homes. In all, volunteers helped get more than 30 people to safety.
"We had to go, without fire and rescue, chest deep, putting our own lives at risk," said Burrows, in everyday life an IT consultant, her voice shaking with emotion. "We evacuated a three-year-old this morning. We're using any boats people will lend us. I haven't seen my house since 7am and it's probably under water. It was about two inches off then."

It didn't take long for Burrows to become angry: "The main people doing this are volunteers. We're struggling. We feel on our own. We feel sacrificed, isolated, forgotten. It took 40 minutes for the police to arrive from a 999 call. I don't want to get at the police, it's who is directing them. Who's telling them where they need to be?"

She argued that the tide of blame should lap up against the door of Number 10, saying: "David Cameron – where are you? Get your waders on and get down here. I don't believe he knows how serious this is. I appreciate he has to manage these Cobra meetings and everything else. But the Environment Agency haven't got a clue."

Police and fire crews did arrive during the afternoon, but other locals expressed the strong belief this only happened after Burrows expressed similar views in a tearful interview with a television news crew.

However, Andrew Davies, the chairman of Wraysbury's parish council, said some of those who left homes in the village did so because the floods meant sewage systems failed, or they feared power supplies would be cut. More than 30 people had been evacuated, he said, many going initially to the requisitioned primary school hall where he was based. He said: "Some people choose to stay at home and tough it out. Others just go to friends and family."

Water levels were more than 1.2m above the normal, Davies said, and were not expected to recede for at least a week – and that was if the strong rains stop. "Every time there's more rain it takes another few days for the water to run down the river to us, so we never quite know what's going to happen."Davies was less critical of emergency services, saying only that Wraysbury had become "very good at organising things ourselves". However, he condemned the Environment Agency for ending dredging in the local stretch of the Thames, and for delays to a wider flood release scheme for the river.

Neverthless, the bulk of remaining rescue efforts still fell to local people and the Windsor amphibious boat, loaned by its owner, Graham Lumley.

"We only started the business in November, and by December the river was too fast for us to operate the boat," he said.
"I thought we might as well put it to use."

   

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop
production)
Home:     helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact:  neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

 

 

0745 Am 11 february 2014 - Come on if you think you're hard enough!

0745 am 11^th February 1014

I meant to get up really early, actually I needed to check the water level but my excuse is that I’m not too well.

So, stumble out of bed and throw on clothes. Across the road from us;

 

I paced it out. From the water to the road (last line of defence) is still 42 paces, same as it was at midnight.

"Come on if you think you're hard enough!"

That’s the first round we’ve drawn. I’m not getting carried away – an inch of rain is forecast for today. To celebrate I’ve got the washing machine going, because the main drainage will soon pack up.

Last night I cancelled my mum's carers - it wasn't worth it for anyone to struggle through. Now we need them.....

Last night, Wraysbury was number one item on the national news. News teams are basing themselves here – as fascinated by the rising water as we all are.

Film of a flooded Staines showed a family walking through the water outside their home – Nick Tidbury of The SkaSouls. Time for a benefit concert? Perhaps not just yet.

Meanwhile, no sign of sandbags here. No Army in our village. No sign of the local Council either.

Thanks for all your messages and good wishes - much appreciated.

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

1600 hrs 10 February 2014; RSPCA Rescue.

1600 hrs 10 February.

I was having a cup of tea when I heard the sound of clip-clopping hooves on the road.

 

 

These intrepid mariners are from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. They were rounding up the horses from the meadow, frightened and confused by the flood. I had a chat with them, they spent most of the day helping people out of their houses down Ouseley Road where the flood is at its worst.

Off they go;

 

I'm a lot less happy about the DUKW - it's a vintage WWII amphibious vehicle and it's come past us twice. I have a horrible feeling they are organising tours for tourists at Windsor - from Windsor to Datchet, through the flood and then back through Wraysbury.

I hope I'm wrong - let me know if you are doing good deeds rather than profiting from other peoples misery. 

I had a chat with some of the people who live down at what was the farm across the road from us– my Red Bull can shows that the water has moved up the lane three paces since Noon.

My neighbours smart phone showed me that the water has risen about three inches in the same time, up to near the top of the little bridge;

 

The bridge is where the people are standing, the water is now flowing around it. We wished each other ‘good luck’ and remarked on our good fortune – soon we will have those indoor swimming pools and jacuzzi’s we always wanted and at no cost either.

We said our goodbyes – soon I won’t be able to make it down there again.

It’s sad.

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Home: helpmesortoutspeters.blogspot.com

Contact: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

 

Fighting February; Noon Flood update at Wraysbury, 10/2/14.

 

 

Noon.

Datchet Village centre is flooded – thanks SB for your phone call and update.

The trains have been cancelled from Windsor and traffic is pretty chaotic all around the area. Near the river at Datchet the water is chest high while the Chemist on the green is having to use a side door to hand out the prescriptions.

The Egham to Old Windsor road is cut as is Pococks lane in Eton and Welley road in Wraysbury.

In Wraysbury, the houses by the river are flooded and the water is very close to us now. This is Oast House Close, you can see the waters have moved around the houses from the back gardens – but they are still holding out!

 

Rescue is at hand for people in the Meadows behind The Grange;

 

The Fish and Chip shop isn’t going to be frying tonight but you can still get your car serviced;

 

Or perhaps that old outboard needs a tune up?

I’m going to be missing my Jazz tonight, I think. It’s a shame – a tribute to Lionel Hampton.

Meanwhile I’ve marked the water level opposite with an old can of Red Bull and we’ll see how it goes tonight.......

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

 

 

Flood; 0700 am, still battling on, 10 February 2014)

Monday 0700 am.

It’s worse than last night but not dramatically worse (for us).

Datchet – the Army and Navy did come out, they spent the night trying to divert water with sandbags. Their Village green is under threat, as predicted. We don’t have any sandbags here (poor relations) and no Army or Navy help – only volunteers and they haven’t made it to our end.

Welley Road is cut as is the Horton Road – use the M25. Horton and Colnebrook are in trouble.

Across from us I would guess that the water is in all the gardens now. The houses and the road are raised about 2 feet and are our last line of defence. The water pressure on the mains means that our toilet is starting to give up on us.

We don't have broad band, I use a dongle. At the moment I can't upload pictures because every one is using their mobile phones. 

Oh and a big thankyou to everyone who has been looking at the Blog.

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Home:   helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

Midnight Flood update 10 february 2014.

Midnight, 10 February 2014.

It’s becoming traditional – a midnight walk down Ankerwycke to check the floodwaters. The thing is I have a 94 year old to look after and I need to know we won’t be flooded overnight.

It was still, no owls calling, no foxes screeching. No cars either.

The water is only about 3 feet further up Magna Carta Lane but it’s a lot further up the buttercup meadow which is directly below Ankerwycke farm.

The five cars parked by the little bridge aren’t in any danger tonight but it might be an idea to move them up to the farm tomorrow.

Across the road from us the little stream has flooded a bit more, water is still pilling up and peoples gardens across the way from us are now starting to flood.

I have never seen the water higher in the gravel pits. The significance of this is that the water level there is the same as the ground water level under ground – it has nowhere else to go. Water coming downstream from Colnebrook is piling up too and then this evening we had an update from the Environment Agency – further flooding at Colnebrook.

Overall we are still OK tonight, lots of people aren’t.

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop  production)

Home: helpesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact: neilwithpromisestokee@gmail.com

Flood; 'Danger to Life' - thats not so good!

1400 hours.

Wraysbury Village green is flooded again, the bridge on the main road is clear;

 

The meadows by The Grange are all flooded with water from the village stream.

Houses down by the river (Ouseley Road etc) are flooded depending on their height. There is talk about the army being called in to evacuate people but that is usually just talk.

We have been phoned by Social Services flood co-ordinator who is getting plans ready to evacuate the elderly.

Datchet always has some flooding down by the river – tonight it’s forecast the town centre will flood which has never happened before in local memory.

Over the road from us, the stream I posted this morning has risen further as you can see;

 

 

There is a fairly strong movement of water which I’m not keen on.

A couple of blokes were digging a trench to clear water from their electricity junction box.

Oast House Close is rapidly filling with water although the houses aren’t yet flooded.

At 1450 hours we got the 'Severe Flood warning'
 which is as follows;
"Severe Flooding. 

Danger to life.

A Severe Flood Warning has been issued by the Environment Agency for the River Thames at Wraysbury. 

This Severe Flood Warning is for the River Thames at Wraysbury village including Welley Road, Ouseley Road, Station Road and Staines Road, as well as Magna Carta Lane.

River levels on the Thames are very high and still rising in the Wraysbury area. A Severe Flood Warning is now in force as river levels will continue to rise for at least 24 hours and are forecast to be higher than those experienced in 2003 on the Thames. Widespread property flooding is expected in the area and disruption to local infrastructure is possible. The Environment Agency and its partners will update this message as the situation changes."  

So for us, fingers crossed for 24 hours…..and if you have already been flooded, we are thinking of you.

 

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)
(I gave up on photos, my link was too slow)
Home:  helpmesortoutstppeters.blogspot.com
contact: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com
 

Wraysbury Flood update; 10 00 am 9 February 2014.

After our early morning wakeup call from the Environment Agency (it’s bad), I had a walk around the waters this morning.

Over the road from us is a little stream, just a dried up ditch normally. It has breached its banks on the opposite side from us but here you can see that it’s nibbling away at its bank on our side.

 

I reckon we have are about 2 feet higher than this, so we are still in the clear for a while.

This is the bridge on Magna Carta lane – not doing its job anymore;

 

And these are the fields looking down towards The Thames. Yesterday it was flooded at Runnymede which is on the other side of the trees. Now it looks like its over its banks on our side too;

 

After the last flood The National Trust cleared all the beached logs up – look at what floated downstream to us overnight.

On the Radio this morning it said that The Thames has flooded at Reading and high powered pumps have been brought in from East Anglia to save an Electricity Sub Station at Burghfield. The water at Reading will take at least two days to come downstream to us – so we have a bit of nail biting to get through yet.

What they didn’t mention is that the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston and the munitions dump at Burghfield are the reasons for the panic at Reading – it’s where the nuclear warheads get made, repaired, stored and dismantled. It needs a lot of electricity to keep cool and doesn’t need a flood.

Will keep you posted.

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Home:     helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact:  neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com