Met Office predicts heavy rainfall in Kent amid county flood alerts
Flooding is possible
across Kent today (file picture)
Kent remains on flood alert as the Met Office predicts
heavy rain across the county today.
The Environment Agency still has three warnings in
place for possible flooding.
There are fears of flooding along stretches of the rivers Medway
and Beult as the Met Office forecasts rainfall of up to
25mm in Kent today and into Wednesday.
Meanwhile, P&O Ferries and DFDS Seaways said "adverse
weather conditions" have been causing delays of up to two hours on
cross-Channel services.
The A21 Pembury Road in Tunrbidge Wells was closed in both
directions earlier this morning when a fallen tree blocked the
road.
Flooding is said to be possible in areas including
Yalding, Allington and parts of Maidstone along with Smarden and
Headcorn.
The Environment Agency's flood alert for the upper River
Medway covers an area from Forest Row to Penshurst, including
Ashurst.
An alert for the lower River Medway stretches
from Hampstead Lock at Yalding to Allington Lock
- including East Farleigh, Wateringbury, Teston and Teston
Park - Tovil and Maidstone including Millennium Park.
And a third warning is in place for the River Beult from
Pluckley and Bethersden to Hampstead Lock at Yalding, including
Smarden, Headcorn, Collier Street, Benover and The Lees.
Flooding in Yalding (file
picture)
The Environment Agency said it is is working hard to minimise
any possible risk of flooding - and is warning residents to take
action to reduce the risks.
Flood risk manager Alison Baptiste said: "It looks like it's
going to be a wet week, with heavy rain forecast across the region
for the next five days.
"Our teams are working hard to prepare and to make sure our
professional partners are prepared. We have officers out checking
flood defences and clearing any river blockages. We are receiving
regular updates from the Met Office, and will continuously monitor
river levels.
"Now is a good time for anyone who lives in an area vulnerable
to flooding to think about the precautions they can take to protect
their properties."
She added many rivers remain above their usual winter levels
because milder temperatures have melted last week's snow - in
areas where heavy downpours have already left the ground
saturated.
28/01/13
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