Clear up begins after devastating Tenbury floods

THE BIG clear up is underway in Tenbury this morning after devastating flooding hit the town.

Huge amounts of water poured through the town as rivers burst their banks.

The devastation was made worse by the collapse of the Market Street Kyre Brook retaining wall, which gave way under the strain of the water.

The remains of the Kyre Brook retaining wall (Image: Gavin McEwan)

The wall was previously swept away in the floods of 2007.

There was huge anger in the town yesterday (November 24) as a tractor was filmed driving through the deep floodwater in the middle of the town, sending enormous waves crashing into businesses in Teme Street.

(Image: Jay Da Costa) The driver also appears to hit something and the tractor jolts to the shock of onlookers. 

Chloe Mcintosh took to Facebook and said: "Thank you to the person who drove through Tenbury in a tractor at one million miles per hour. 

"Everyone's life's work, gone."

Emma Jayne Dyke said: "So sorry for everyone.

"Absolutely awful.

Others however, mounted a cautious defence, suggesting the driver may have been on their way to an emergency.

The bridge is closed awaiting a structural assessment (Image: Gavin McEwan)

This morning, police remain on scene in Tenbury, preventing drivers from accessing Market Street, while work has already started to clear the deluge of mud and debris that has coated the town's flood-hit streets. 

Pitter Potter in Tenbury was among the businesses hit (Image: Hereford Times) An update published by the town clerk this morning said Worcestershire County Council and Malvern Hills District Council would be starting the clear up with a grab lorry, excavator, and road sweeper this morning.

"The wall area will be barriered off and it is hoped the roads will reopen as quickly as possible," they said.

A structural assessment of Teme Bridge will also be carried out this morning.

Mud coats the streets in Tenbury this morning (Image: Hereford Times) Dame Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, said: “This is yet another stark reminder that Tenbury needs its permanent flood defence scheme and I will continue to escalate my concerns to the Flood Minister and the senior Environment Agency leadership to try and find any way to make the scheme deliverable.

“My heart goes out to all those people in the Teme Valley and in particular the residents of Tenbury Wells who are experiencing serious flooding yet again.

“I have been in close contact with the emergency response team, the Environment Agency, the police and local councillors as the situation develops..

“We need to find permanent solutions rather than sticking plasters.”