The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for the Eastern Yar, but properties are not thought to be at risk of flooding.
Water levels in the Eastern Yar – which runs from Bembridge to Whitwell – are high and rising. Since the start of October, more than a month’s rainfall (108mm) has been recorded at Knighton.
With heavy rain overnight and more expected throughout today, water levels could be close to the top of the river bank at Alverstone Road Bridge. Thankfully, property flooding is not expected but pumps used to reduce water in gardens will need to operate.
By 09:00 this morning, the river could be higher than recorded on Sunday (13th October 2019). There will be no impacts at Sandown.
Over the next 24 hours locals should expect water levels to be higher than normal.
UPDATE @ 11:55 – The overnight rain was much less than expected and only 7.5mm was recorded at Knighton. This morning, water levels in the river are not as high as the Environment Agency thought they would be.
Water levels are unlikely to be higher than recorded on Sunday. Any flood impacts in the upper river will be minor, and confined to low lying land only.
Wait until over a thousand new houses and all the roads are discharging their water into Monkton Brook.
The new, timely built, flood defences at Simeon Street recreation ground, now walled in, will become a huge outdoor swimming pool, with bags of dog ‘doo doo’ as buoyancy aids, and a huge outdoor skating rink in the depths of winter.
Anyone would have thought the council ‘knew’ permission would be given for the ruination of Ryde and surrounding areas, once they had achieved the ‘timely’ new flood defences, pretending that they ‘did so’ for the residents of Monkton Street, when, in reality, the REAL reason, is likely that they did so to get the huge house building programme ‘through’.
Remember this at voting time.
Flooding on the Eastern Yar to property and surrounding land is entirely due to the Environment Agency along with the RSPB and others who first decided to set up damming this river to such a height that this river was and is every year held at over 60 – 70% full even during the height of summer, year after year. So if we have any heavy or prolonged rainfall, it is entirely their responsibility if any property floods.
I have for many years pointed this out to the Environment Agency. I have also informed our local area Councillors.
The one good thing from continuing to email the EA was that they undertook clearing the drainage ditches across the fields around Yarbridge, leading to the river.
The simple thing is no natural river stays at this level during the summer.
They can, if they wish, simply empty, at low tide, the Eastern Yar and ensure the level stays at no more than 60% – 70% thus ensuring the continuation of the marsh area and reducing/eliminating chances of flooding in the whole rivers catchment area.
I have been told the EA and RSPB can’t, or won’t.
Surely clearing the ditches on land, simply allows a more ‘rapid’ flow of flash flood water into the already full main river, adding to the risk of flooding and bursting it’s bank?
Restricted slowing of surface water, to gently percolate into the main river is of more benefit.
That is why the thousand plus homes to ruin Ryde will add greatly to the Monkton Brook water levels and hence why Simeon Street childrens play area has been ‘utilised’ as a giant holding tank.
Thus allowing the greedy developers and their council ‘chums’ a green light to proceed, removing the ‘only’ objection that could have halted such desecration of the countryside and the special area that is, for a short while Smallbrook Valley.
NOT ruined for a while, but for the rest of time.
Wait till the proposed introduction of beavers gets the go ahead, dams everywhere raising water levels.