River Kent above Stramongate Bridge Flood alerts across the country, and Cumbria was forecast to receive some of the heaviest rainfall. An Environment Agency Unit from Derbyshire was stationed by Stramongate Bridge and they had officials patrolling the river, checking for trouble. Hidden inside their vehicle were pumps and they were ready for debris brought down by the floods. There was no let-up in the rain but the river was expected to peak at mid-day and the deadline came and went, seemingly without trouble.
The most serious flooding I remember was 3 February 2004, and I came home and read how I had written about it in About Scout Scar. That day too, the river drew the crowds. Providing no one is injured and there’s no major damage we find it exciting. My friend Maggie and I agreed when we met by chance on the river bank today.
The riverside walkway was flooded in places, but not severely. So this was a good public relations opportunity for the Environment Agency. Maggie and I had stopped to chat to them about their work, several others did too. Their vehicle was opposite the weir at Stramongate Bridge and as we chatted he pointed out the standing waves. My images are looking downstream but the waves rear into the air because of the volume of water. He confirmed what I’d noticed. The greater the depth of water in the river, the quieter it flows. Turbulence is beneath that rapid surface water and noise is created by disturbance where the flow is interrupted, and where the river is more enclosed- said a local woman who joined us. Stramongate School is beside the river and on the riverside fence was a notice that said Fire Point: not today. There were life-jackets at strategic points along the river, sandbags in doorways and the occasional floodgate. ‘ Flood Defence, DO NOT OPEN,’ read the notice.
There were families with colourful umbrellas, cyclists, dog walkers. And some downright stupidity. A couple walked beside the river in spate whilst their Labrador with a stick in its mouth couldn’t keep off the river bank and their small child went running after the dog. The parents appeared wholly unconcerned.
All day it rained. I couldn’t keep the rain off the lens of my camera and the lens cloth gave up, saturated. A few mallard drifted in vegetation close to the far bank. Some kids on bikes rode around the BMX part on the river’s edge. Where were the goosander, I wondered? And the dipper and grey wagtail?
All day it rained. I couldn’t keep the rain off the lens of my camera and the lens cloth gave up, saturated. A few mallard drifted in vegetation close to the far bank. Some kids on bikes rode around the BMX part on the river’s edge. Where were the goosander, I wondered? And the dipper and grey wagtail?
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