'We're still out of our homes a year after flood'

Ms Cooper and her neighbours are calling for more action to protect their homes from future floods

A group of residents whose homes were flooded a year ago has revealed they are still living in alternative accommodation while repairs are carried out.

Jay Cooper from Hitchin, Hertfordshire, says she and her neighbours want the Environment Agency (EA) to do more to maintain the River Purwell, after it burst its banks in September 2024.

"It's completely shaken our lives up: it's my and my husband's first house together, our whole life savings have gone into it," she told the BBC.

The EA said 60 days' worth of rain had fallen in just one day, and after the floods it "cleared all blockages and vegetation" and carried out "routine maintenance of the River Purwell".

Ms Cooper, chair of the Hitchin Flood Action Committee, said a flood forum on 1 October would update residents on work carried out by various agencies to prevent further disasters.

"The group wants action before then," she said.

"A lot of us are nervous to wait for the forum, in case something happens first."

The fire service pumped away 1.5 million litres of water from roads around the River Purwell

Forty-six properties in Woolgrove Road, Cambridge Road and Green Lane were flooded during a period of exceptionally heavy rain.

Ms Cooper, 34, recalled going downstairs in the early hours of Friday 28 September.

"It came up like a sinking ship – the water rose up through the ground, not through the door," she said.

"We were sinking with the floor because it lifted everything."

She described seeing "raw sewage" in the flood water and being told to evacuate her home.

The extent of the damage became clear later, as mould spread and plaster blew.

"My house ended up being stripped back to brick with no floors, and the staircase was removed.

"It was hard because we'd spent so much time, money and energy making it nice," she said.

Jay and her husband are hoping to move back into their home by November after significant reconstruction works

Although she said families have struggled being out of their homes, they were also anxious about returning in case of another flood.

"Can we live with the worry of every time it rains?" she said.

"I'm really dreading the anniversary date, thinking nothing's been done. We've had a lot of fighting and work, but these things seem to be taking too long."

Ms Cooper said Anglian Water had "taken some steps" to improve pipework and secure manhole covers, but she would like to see them upgrade pipework and build overflow tanks.

Anglian Water said its pipework "had dropped in line with the riverbank", and it had "promptly carried out an initial repair to reinstate the sewer".

It also introduced sealed manholes and installed non-return valves on customers' pipes.

"We know that there is still work to do, and flooding incidents require a combined response.

"We are doing everything we can for the residents," the company said.

The Environment Agency cleared the River Purwell of trees and debris after the flooding, but locals want the work done more often

However, the committee's main focus is on managing the River Purwell.

"The river clearly hasn't been maintained for a number of years – it's pure negligence on the part of the Environment Agency," Ms Cooper added.

"We want it to be cleared of dead wood and silt islands once or twice a year, to create flow and capacity."

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: "Clearing silt from rivers and dredging are not the solution many people think they are.

"Dredging and desilting are expensive, can harm the environment and push flooding elsewhere.

"Following the Hitchin flooding in September 2024, we cleared all the blockages, obstructing trees, and vegetation - as well as our routine maintenance of the River Purwell.

"This will hopefully improve the flow of water and help reduce the risk of flooding this winter."

The agency says it "continues to meet with North Herts District Council" to reduce flood risks.

Hertfordshire County Council said the main cause of flooding was "three intense rainfall events, saturated ground and run off into the River Purwell upstream"

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire County Council, which investigated the floods, said: "The council, along with our partners, are committed to supporting residents affected by the flooding in Hitchin following unprecedented rainfall.

"We have led monthly meetings with other agencies to work collaboratively on repair works, maintenance and to gather data."

The council added that although the report made recommendations, "it is important for everyone to be aware that events such as flooding may become more likely as we continue to experience the impacts of climate change."