Torrential rains hit Boscastle three years after flood devastation. by Tomasz Schafernaker
Torrential rain across much of Cornwall over the past day has resulted in a three foot (91cm) torrent of water running through the village of Boscastle. According to the Environmental Agency the village received an inch (2.5cm) of rain in the space of an hour, with just over 3 inches (7.6cm) being recorded over the course of Thursday.
It was almost three years ago in August 2004 that torrential rain caused flooding in the historic village, destroying over 50 homes and many businesses. This time the waters flooded only a small number of buildings, as the £800,000 defences installed after the 2004 floods held back a lot of the water preventing the river from bursting its banks. Local Liberal Democrat Dan Rogerson said “The fact that all this water has descended again and the rivers have not burst their banks show the work was definitely necessary and has had an effect.”
As Boscastle residents brace themselves for more heavy rain the success of the defence scheme has given them confidence that the devastation caused three years ago will not be repeated.
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