GRANDS Vaux residents have demanded details as to how their properties can be better protected after the area was this week devastated by flooding for the second time in six years.
Worried occupants have sent an open letter to Jersey Water, Andium Homes and Assistant Environment Minister Hilary Jeune asking for clarification on the immediate and long-term actions that will be taken to prevent future flooding in the area.
The JEP understands that a petition to the same effect is also being created.
Jersey Water’s head of production operations, Mark Manton, who is the subject of today’s Saturday Interview, said the company needed to work closely with the Infrastructure, Housing and Environment department in the wake of the incident.
‘We need to work very closely with the States and the community to see what [would be] a proportionate plan – whether that’s new infrastructure or early-warning systems,’ he added.
Water levels rose to waist-height in several areas of the Andium estates on Tuesday, when the Island’s drainage systems failed to cope with significant rainfall 24 hours after severe gale-force winds knocked down trees across the Island.
Nearly 60 households were evacuated and a major incident was declared, as emergency crew worked tirelessly to get residents to safety – in some cases with the aid of an inflatable raft.
The open letter, signed by a number of residents, stated: ‘We members of the Grands Vaux and surrounding communities would like to share our serious concerns regarding the flooding event that occurred in the area in recent days. As you are aware, a number of households were seriously damaged, our kids are in shock and a number of personal belongs have been destroyed.
‘We much-appreciate the help from the emergency services, however we strongly believe most of the damage could have been avoided or its effect minimised. As we are trying to come back to normal day-to-day life our minds are still worried – what if that occurs again in the near future?’
The residents also claim that the drainage next to Grands Vaux School ‘appears to be blocked’ and that ‘the system is close to reaching its full capacity again’.
‘So currently it looks like we are relying on the weather forecast mostly, and are not seeing any structural work taking place where the area is clear and not covered by water,’ the letter continued.
The residents’ letter asked for a more ‘proactive response’ given that Grands Vaux had been hit with flooding in the past.
‘As the current event has shown, it can turn into a major disaster that seriously affects peoples’ lives.
‘This has left us feeling unsecure regarding the near future. We would appreciate a clear and accurate response clarifying what, if any, immediate action and more importantly, long-term plans – with a timeframe of structural development – will hopefully take place in our area,’ it continued.
