Roads blocked as heavy rain brings flooding to Plymouth

A MAIN commuter route in Plymouth was closed by flooding, and some villages were cut off as torrential rain swept across the South West in the night.

Gdynia Way, the main route into Plymouth from the east, was closed at 4.30am and remained closed seven hours later.

Parts of Tamerton Foliot and Yealmpton were described as “impassable”, and Tamerton Foliot Road was also still closed at 11am today.

Firefighters had more than 300 calls to flooding in Devon and Somerset this morning.

The Kings Arms pub in Tamerton Foliot, which has just completed an extensive refurbishment, is flooded to knee-high internally.

Flooding was reported from right across the city, and council contractors were out in force, clearing drains ahead of a second downpour forecast for tonight.

Early today a man driving a blue Mitsubishi Colt was trapped when his car broke down in floodwater in Gdynia way at 4.15am.

Plymstock firefighters pushed his vehicle clear, and the road was closed.

An hour later the Plymstock crew was called to Bovisand, where a stream broke its banks. They diverted water away from houses at Bovisand Court.

Camels Head firefighters went to Yealmpton, east of Plymouth, where they pumped out one house in Stray Park and diverted water running off the fields.

Firefighters from Ivybridge were called to Tamerton Foliot, where part of the village was closed by flooding.

Police said people were rescued from a car trapped in two feet of floodwater.

The car, a blue Nissan Almera, was trapped by the water in Old Warleigh Lane at about 4.20am

Police said the road was closed at the junction of Riverside Walk and Fore Street, and four houses were affected.

The Environment Agency said there were 24 flood warnings and 50 flood alerts in place, in an area stretching from Plymouth to East Devon after widespread, heavy rain during Tuesday the night.

Heavy rain is expected to fall on to already wet or saturated areas tonight, weds raising river levels.

Strong winds will mean that wind-blown debris and fallen leaves may increase surface water flooding.

The Met Office Tweeted at 7.20am: Amber Rain Warning for the South West today, stay safe all!

It said most of the heavy rain should clear by lunchtime, with just a few showers this afternoon.

The Met Office said it would cloud over this evening, with winds strengthening overnight.

A few showery outbreaks of rain are possible through the early hours, with a minimum temperature of 7C.

Tomorrow Thursday: will be very windy with severe gales in exposed area.

There will be new outbreaks of rain, with some torrential downpours expected in the west, especially later in the day.

Outlook for Friday to Sunday:

Friday will bring a quieter spell of weather, with bright or sunny spells and just a few showers. The weather will turn unsettled again on Sunday.

A city council spokeswoman said Plymouth Transport and Highways had been out clearing gullies and culverts since the early hours.

Gdynia Way was closed at 3.30am at the request of the police, after a sewer overflowed.

“Debris is currently being cleared from the carriageway and this should be re-opened again shortly,” the spokeswoman said at 11am.

“A number of roads in and around Tamerton Foliot have been reported as flooded and we have a gully cart on site there to clear debris from a culvert that has become blocked by debris washed in by the rain.

“We have also had reports of properties flooded on St Peter’s Road and have a crew on its way to check and clear the local culverts.

A sewer has also overflowed on Wolseley Road though the road remains passable for vehicles.”

Other locations where flooding has been reported include:

• Old Warleigh Lane/ Tamerton Foliot Road

• Alma Road

• Paradise Road

• Budshead Road

• Longbrook Street

• Sutton Road

• Outland Road

• Houndiscombe Road

• Blandford Road

• Southway Drive

• Glen Road

• Belmont Place

• Temeraire Road

“With more rain expected this evening, we will have gully crews out all day checking culverts and clearing any debris that may have been washed in over the last 24 hours.”

A fire service spokesman said: "Since the rainfall began early this morning Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service have attended 51 incidents due to flooding with 38 incidents still on-going. In total we have received 311 calls for assistance since the first flooding incident which took place at 02:12. As well as 18 rescues from vehicles caught in floodwater, one involving two people who were attempting to rescue cattle.

At the moment 12 live rescues from vehicles caught in flood water are taking place, we are also assisting the ambulance service with a person who is a diabetic and is caught in flood water. In total at this moment in time there are 110 live incidents happening throughout Devon and Somerset.

"There are 42 pumping appliances are at present committed, with one appliance from Avon Fire & Rescue Service and three appliances from Dorset Fire & Rescue Service in assistance. Two Specialist Rescue teams are also committed to incidents."

People are asked to report incidents of flooding on Plymouth roads to Plymouth.watchman@amey.co.uk or by phoning 01752 668000.

SAFETY TIPS

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service’s flood advice:

Do not attempt to drive through flooded roads or fords. The water is often deeper than it looks and may be moving quite fast. Your vehicle may be swept away or become stranded. Vehicles can float away in just two feet of water

If your vehicle stalls, leave it immediately if safe to do so and seek higher ground.

Do not travel in heavy rainstorms unless absolutely necessary. Keep an eye on weather reports on local television or listen to local radio.

Do not attempt to walk through flooded areas. Even shallow water moving fast can sweep you off your feet and there may be hidden dangers such as open drains, damaged road surfaces, submerged debris or deep channels; these can cause serious injuries or even death.

Children should not be allowed to play in floodwater, which can become contaminated with sewerage and chemicals.

Do not smoke, eat or drink whilst in contact with floodwater and always wash your hands afterwards.

After a flood in your home, make sure all electrical circuits are fully dried out and checked by an electrical engineer before switching back on can cause serious injuries or even death.

The Environment Agency has flood warning updates on their website every 15 minutes, www.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood or ring their floodline 08459 881188 service.

Buses have been diverted because of impassable roads in the city.

A Plymouth CityBus spokesman said: "We have major problems across the network with closed roads due to flooding.

"We cannot serve Tamerton Foliot - buses will terminate at Dunnet Road.

T"he school service from Kingsbridge will only operate from Yealmpton inwards as the road is closed beyond Yealmpton

"Although passable there are floods on Outland Road, The Embankment, Peverell Park Road, Wolesley Road, Alma Road, Pike Road, Lipson Vale, Plymouth Road and Sutton Road."

The company also reported flooding in Southway and Staddiscombe.

A spokesman for First said: "We are experiencing flooding locally due to overnight rains in some areas of Devon and around Plymouth.

"Although it has stopped raining this may cause some service disruption while the waters drain away and cars are recovered. Most affected areas are the A379 at Dunstone Cross (93 service), Gdynia Way (PR2, X80, 88, 180) and Stadiscombe (service 6).

"The flood issues the East End of Plymouth remains problematic where traffic along The Embankment is very slow caused by the flooding on Gdynia Way that is now starting to ease.

"This has had a knock-on effect to all services including our Mountbatten service 2, Stadiscombe services 6 & 7, Wembury service 48, Kingsbridge & Dartmouth service 93.

"Although other areas are still reporting delays we are experiencing congestion as people attempt to bypass the trouble spots.

"As the traffic congestion eases we will be able to re-position our fleet to better correspond with our published timetables."

Trains are also delayed by flooding and landslides near Exeter.

Police are advising people only to drive if necessary.