THE flooding situation along the A22 in Whyteleafe was said to be getting worse this afternoon (Wednesday, February 11)writes Mark Davison.
Warren Gilbert, of the printing firm, Litho Techniques, in Godstone Road, said at 3.30pm: "The water has risen in the road - the A22 - another three or four inches in the last few hours and is half way up the garage forecourt of the BP station. There are many people in fluorescent jackets going around and people with sandbags.
"We are still very much open for business and the printing press is running as we speak."
However, Mr Gilbert said the situation was getting steadily worse and heavy rain had fallen during the early afternoon.
This will not be good news for the Sutton and East Surrey Water Company, whose Kenley works supplies 116,000 people in South Croydon, Purley, Warlingham, Whyteleafe and Kenley. Emergency teams from the Fire Brigade and the Environment Agency have had to construct sandbag barricades around the building to protect it amid fears that it will be flooded at any time and threaten supplies. If it does flood and has to be closed, alternative supplies of water will be provided, the company has said.
This afternoon, the bourne was flowing "at an amazing speed" down the side of the fields next to Woldingham Road, Woldingham, near the Wapses Lodge roundabout.
Former chairman of Tandridge District Council, Councillor Sakina Bradbury, was at the flood scene tonight helping stricken residents. She said she could not stay at home when there was a crisis down the road. She personally guided people along a route at the back of houses so they did not need to wade through the floods. And at 10pm, she carried a baby along the drier route to help a stricken mother. She also drove a lady to a depot to collect sandbags after she pleaded for help.
Business at the BP station at Whyteleafe, and the Co-op at Kenley, was poor with virtually no passing trade.
The huge London Fire Brigade operation at Kenley Pumping Works continued throughout the night with fire crews from Biggin Hill and Bromley joining local teams.
Georgie Keate reports: The situation is becoming more and more serious with some people being evacuated from their homes as water levels continue to rise.
A group of residents from Godstone Road and Dale Road, in Purley, have been transported out of the area by Croydon Council to a refuge set up by the council and Red Cross elsewhere in the borough.
The A22 Godstone Road has been completely shut to non-emergency vehicles between Purley and Whyteleafe.
Until this morning, the three-mile stretch of road had been open for access since its closure last Wednesday due to flooding.
But now, only fire crews and other emergency services can access the usually busy road, as flood fears grow.
Residents in Godstone Road are also on high alert, with fire crews making half-hourly visits to some homes, to check on water levels.
One of those affected is Mark Kelly, 54, who lives in Godstone Road at the junction of Downs Court Road, with his wife, daughter, 21, and his daughter's friend.
His garden has been flooded out and he fears the water could soon get into his home.
Mr Kelly said: "We are emptying the cellar of water at the moment and moving stuff upstairs.At the deepest point the water in the garden is about 20 inches deep.
"We are sandbagging the side because the fire brigade are worried about the water coming round the side of the house – if it goes to the front it will come into the front of all the houses.
"The council first came and bought sandbags to me at two o'clock in the morning not last Friday but the Friday before.
"They have been regularly delivering sandbags ever since.
"My next priority is my carp [in the pond] which I don't want swimming off down the road.
"The people I feel sorry for is next door but one, who have not even moved in yet.
"We have been here 12 years – at the beginning we had a little bit of ground water but nothing like this.
"I have got no power downstairs – I had to switch the power off downstairs [it kept fusing]."
Elsewhere, the community is rallying around to help those affected, while more drastic action is being taken to prevent water flooding homes and business:
* The car park at St John the Baptist Catholic Church, in Dale Road, has been turned into a 'temporary pond', much as Purley Cross underpass was at the weekend
* The playing field at Harris Academy Kenley has also been earmarked as an emergency flood defence
* Care homes in Dale Road have reportedly been evacuated
* The 407 bus has been diverted via Downs Court Road, Mitchley Avenue, Mitchley Hill, Limpsfield Road, Tithepit Shaw Lane, and Hillbury Road in both directions.
* Tesco, in Purley, is offering free parking to those unable to access their home by car
* Purley Oaks Household Reuse & Recycling Centre remains closed, due to "flood management work"
The weather forecast is for heavy rain again on Friday.
Coulsdon weatherman Ian Currie said that following the wettest winter ever recorded, the bourne will continue to rise as more and more water works its way to the foot of the North Downs. Unlike the Thames and River Mole, it takes several weeks for the bourne to start flowing and when it does it could be in full spate for many weeks, causing dsruption and threatening homes and businesses.
Forecaster's grim forecast of wworsening floods: www.surreymirror.co.uk/Surrey-weatherman-Ian-Currie-issues-new-grim/story-20603632-detail/story.html
