Shrewsbury braced for flooding - with river levels expected to reach the peak seen last February and March
Shrewsbury and other parts of the county are braced for more flooding misery, with river levels expected to reach the peak seen last February and March.
The situation is so severe that Shropshire Council has announced that Covid lockdown regulations have been lifted for those whose homes are at risk of flooding.
Residents in Coleham in Shrewsbury, and council officials have been putting sandbags in place yesterday afternoon, while the flood barriers in the area were also being set up as of 4.15pm.
There have also been reports that flood defences at Pentre have already been over-topped by flood water.
The River Severn was expected to peak at between 4.7m and 5.1m at Welsh Bridge, Shrewsbury, last night.
Last February and March, when the county was repeatedly hit by major flooding, the river level had reached a similar point.
In a statement Shropshire Council said that those at risk of flooding would not be in breach of lockdown rules by going to stay with other people.
Vulnerable
A statement said: "Over the last 48 hours, persistent and heavy rainfall has led to significant flooding across the county, rendering some communities inaccessible and homes being flooded.
"Understandably many will be worried about violating the current coronavirus lockdown regulations by moving into other people’s houses if their homes are flooded or at risk of flooding.
"For communities that cannot be evacuated and where the risk of harm to lives and livelihoods is imminent, some of the restrictions under the coronavirus lockdown may not apply.
"Therefore, those facing imminent flooding in their homes can move into other suitable accommodation inhabited by those they have no pre-existing bubbling arrangements with.
"They are advised to adhere to social distancing and infection prevention measures (eg regular/frequent hand washing, cleaning of touched surfaces, hygiene and wearing face coverings) as much as possible.
"For those in the extremely clinically vulnerable group, moving into other people’s homes or having others moving into their homes should be an option of last resort."
