SOUTHWELL: Businesses hold their breath as rain lashes county

Residents and business owners in Southwell have been pulling together to keep a close eye on dykes and rivers in the area after July’s flash flooding.

Etiennes Vintage shop on Church Street was among the multiple businesses to be devastated and forced to close after Potwell Dyke burst its banks and created a wave of water down the street.

Alison Schänzer, owner, said: “We are back to normal now and all the stock has dried out but the river is rising again which is really concerning.

“There is not a lot we can do about it but all the residents have been getting together to clear the dykes. I just hope it never happens again in my lifetime, it was awful.”

Newark and Sherwood District Council has reassured residents that it is extremely unlikely a similar event to July’s flooding will happen again this year.

Coun Lisa Lancaster, community safety manager for the district council, said: “There has been heavy rainfall but no flooding issues have been coming up and we are not aware of any flooding risks.

“We are in contact with The Environment Agency to keep an eye out for any potential risks, but at the moment there’s nothing that we would want to raise public concerns about.

“The rain in July was exceptional and any flooding then was an exceptional incident. It would be extremely unlikely for a similar event to occur twice in one year.”

The torrential rain in July also closed down the Bramley Apple Inn on Church Street which is yet to open as it is still carrying out refurbishments.

The pub’s beer garden was completely destroyed as a wall of water swept through, moving an outbuilding and destroying carpets and electrics inside.

If you have been affected by flooding email [email protected] or contact 01623450302.