If you will take one blanket and a chair could exploit these unexpected hours of sun to lie down and close your eyes, then the mind will perhaps lead to a gentle Mediterranean beach on the gentle waves that create a soothing murmur of water entrained by sand. But is not the Mediterranean, it is not a beach, they are not waves crashing on the sand. Are the waters of River Parrett, which have burst its banks at the gates of Burrowbridge and cross the A372 road. The police have closed to traffic because a little later, the bridge has disappeared from view. It is the only road closure: Burrowbridge is now an island in the wetlands of the Somerset Levels.
This is not exactly dry land. Almost every year the rivers overflow. People know, what to expect and enjoy it. But when floods are a disaster waiting to reach homes and farms and lasted two months. "We live in wetlands, are accustomed to flooding, to see get the water in winter. What we are not used to is to reach these levels for so long. Is thus seven weeks ago. Eight already, " Mary Knight, a secretary withdrawal of 68 years walks with his Wellington boots it was before parking in Langport and is now a huge lake, dotted with treetops, laments extending beyond as the eye.
Like Burrowbridge, other locations, as Muchelney, have become islands. " There 's just a couple of flooded homes, but they can not leave because the water is so deep that you can not wade if you have a boat or tractor. It's the same in Moorland, in Forgate. Things are very difficult. We are used occasionally to have to go somewhere else for a week or two, but this is not normal. " "I have a sister who is heartbroken Burrowsbridge because nobody can get there, the water is very close, the river is very high... It's terrible to see something because you can not control in any way. All you can do is sit there and watch the water level goes up, " laments Mary.
Accuses local authorities have allowed homes to be built in wetlands flooded for sooner or later. And even resists think that all this would not have happened if the rivers will be dredged as before, no one complains that if people make the place, and they saw that the wolf ears with the floods last year. " All requests for dredged the river were ignored and now the Government and the Environment Agency blame themselves to each other. The agency says dredging wanted but did not have the money and the government says they were not given the right advice. But people are not interested in that discussion, does not care who is to blame, because they just want to go home and re- start their business. " "My God, would not it have been better if all someone had heard a couple of months ago? " He laments.
Roger and Violeta Deans, 75 and 72, regentaban a pub until he had to close years ago by floods. Served for 25 years living in the area but had never seen anything like it. Roger, who calls the shots, believes that everything would have been avoided if they continue dredging the rivers, as 20 years ago. " No dredge the river for 20 years because they say they have no money. But the big problem is that people concerned with the environment has given priority to the welfare of the animals to the detriment of the welfare of the people. If you do things right you can get both. But you can not prioritize the animals against the people. You have to help them both and they have never done, "he complains, vehement.
" The people here spent years talking about this, warning that the river was becoming more dangerous, which was increasingly full. Before coming to Langport large ships. Here's how he brought the cows before there were roads and rail. And now things are so bad that they will have to spend millions, "he laments.
David Perran is even more vehement. It has a cattle farm in Oath in Burrowbridge, which has now become an island. "We are inundated since Christmas. I get up there with the tractor, " he explains. Currently, buildings and livestock are dry, but if the water will have to move up to cows somewhere else. " It is all due to lack of maintenance," calls out. "It's not a money problem. The money is there. But they spend protecting wildlife rather than spend it on what they should spend. Not that you have money, you are wasting. Five million have been spent on feeding the birds and farmers say that money could be spent on cleaning up the river. "
" We want an end of all this because conservatism has escaped out of hand, it's crazy," he says. " It has been built in many places and the river has half the rate it was before, but still give permits to build in areas known to be flood. It's crazy, "complains.
John White, however, do not lose your cool. For this man of enigmatic gaze, which won good money as a "commercial artist " and now seems to be devoted primarily to meditation, " we live in time of humility." " I think this is due to climate change because it fell 20 inches [ MIDDLE METRO ] rain in early January, as never since records began in 1910," he explains with unwavering conviction.
" This is mostly agricultural land formerly part of the marshes. It is an experience which is to make us more humble, it's good for wildlife and I think it's a warning. We must see that we are vulnerable, we are small in comparison with nature, with the earth. And people are not happy when feeling vulnerable. We need to understand our situation and be a bit more globe -centric and less self-centered. That's my opinion, "he concludes, before to laugh uproariously.
"They can do whatever they want, but never prevent wetlands are flooded because it is a natural phenomenon that has been occurring for hundreds and hundreds of years ago. What happens is that in the last two years we have had a really horrible time and water has no where else to go. Every year we have floods, but not so great how are you ", holding Jenny and Ray, a couple of retired farmers living on the outskirts of Langport and prefer to hide their name.
Tags: rise, sit, watch, water