Environment Agency publishes Boscastle report

An Environment Agency report has given the go-ahead to replace flood-damaged buildings in the Cornish village of Boscastle, which was devastated by a massive flood in August last year.

The report described the chances of a flood of such magnitude ever happening in that area again as "low", with the risk estimated at 400 to one in any given year.

However, the findings of the report also discovered that a smaller flood may still affect an area of Boscastle, although to a much lower depth.

The Agency report stated that the replacement of buildings in the area should not be prevented on flood risks ground, although it also said that every case must be considered on its own merits.

The report confirmed that the flood which hit Boscastle and the surrounding area in North Cornwall last year was one of the "most extreme" ever experienced in Britain. Eight inches of rain fell in the village within 24 hours, most of it occurring during one five-hour period on August 16. The flood water, an estimated 2 million tonnes, flowed through the village, carrying cars, trees and other debris with it, at speeds in excess of 10 miles per hour.

Environment Agency south west regional flood defence manager, Richard Horrocks, said: "It was immediately apparent that the flood of August 16 was a rare event and one of the most serious we had seen. We took the view that whatever decisions needed to be made in the future would need to be made on the basis of sound science to help the village recover and be restored."

Mr Horrocks also confirmed that the agency was continuing investigations into the need for flood risk measures on the rivers Valency and Jordan in the village, as well as Paradise Stream.

(KMcA/SP)