Re: Gardening Thread.

[bb1]

Westminster's in full panic now as London itself is threatened. The ground is so sodden, it's coming up under buildings, without rivers overflowing:

Scientists have told Sky News that groundwater levels are now so high that parts of Britain face a serious risk of flooding for weeks or even months to come.

Andy McKenzie, a groundwater scientist at the British Geological Survey, told Sky News that even if the rain stopped today, so much water is soaking through the soil that levels are likely to keep rising for another two months.

The risk of flooding could remain high until May, he said.

Figures exclusively revealed to Sky News show that boreholes used to measure the height of the water table are overflowing in many areas, with the highest levels ever recorded.

According to the data from the British Geological Survey nine of the 14 boreholes in southern England are now showing "exceptionally high levels".

At Chilgrove House in Sussex the groundwater level at the end of January beat records going back 179 years.

And at a borehole at The Well House Inn in Surrey the extraordinary rainfall has pushed up the water table by 20 metres in the last two weeks.

The British Geological Survey estimates 1.6 million properties in England and Wales are at risk of groundwater flooding.

They tend to be in low-lying areas where water is pushed up through rocks. They can be in normally dry areas, far from rivers and streams.

The Environment Agency (EA) has already issued groundwater flood alerts for parts of south London, Kent, Surrey, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset.

he EA warns that cellars are likely to flood, and if groundwater seeps into sewers, there could be pollution. Roads could also be closed by rising water levels.

In the winter of 2000-01 groundwater flooding of the Patcham area of Brighton cost £800,000 and cut off the London to Brighton railway line.

Water flowing underground is also likely to mean the Somerset Levels will remain flooded well into the Spring.

Sky News descended through a pothole in the Mendip Hills to access a network of caves that stretches for several miles.

Huge volumes of water are cascading through the tunnels, heading for the low-lying areas.

Andy Sparrow of Caveclimb has been exploring the system for several decades. He said he has never seen it so wet for so long.

With more storms forecast this week, and no sign the jet stream is moving north to its normal position, large areas of Britain are at risk of further flooding.

I am heart-sorry for the MILLIONS of people now being affected, but Westminster's been fiddling while Rome burned for a long time now.

[bb1]

Sums it up perfectly:

Breathtaking incompetence: It's not just the floods debacle. The people who run Britain have never been so out of touch - or inept, writes DOMINIC SANDBROOK

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2556412/Breathtaking-incompetence-DOMINIC-SANDBROOK-says-people-run-Britain-never-touch-flood-debacle.html#ixzz2t0UkRTlu
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

[lily]

It ends perfectly too.


At the very least, the crisis has exposed a profound rottenness at the heart of our political system.

It is not just that yet another quango has been found desperately wanting. At issue is the basic competence of the men and women who lead us, and their accountability when they fall short.

The people of Somerset believed that if they found themselves the victims of nature, then Her Majesty’s Government would step in with brisk, compassionate efficiency. Alas, those hopes have been cruelly dispelled.

It is a grim lesson, I suppose, for us all.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2556412/Breathtaking-incompetence-DOMINIC-SANDBROOK-says-people-run-Britain-never-touch-flood-debacle.html#ixzz2t1t50pza 
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

[bb1]

Oh, there's been a grand turnout of politicians today, Lily, in their brand-new wellies, spouting the usual crap about Lessons being Learned.

The electorate knows perfectly well that they would still be sitting in their offices if they hadn't been shamed into movement.

Frankly, I wouldn't blame the flooded householders if they shoved the idiots into the nearest deep, muddy hole.

[bb1]

http://news.sky.com/story/1209672/defence-secretary-tackled-over-thames-floods

I saw that live, it was appalling.

[lily]

The bottom line is "Who needs them?".  They should be replaced.  The lot of them.  

I guess that the Labour Party are seeing themselves as not having to bother to campaign for the next election.

[bb1]

They're being blamed just as much, Lily, as decisions taken years ago to neglect infrastructure and 'forget' how people have managed water for hundreds of years ago happened on their watch, too.

[bb1]

Fury at the Westminster 'flood tourists': Fed-up families hit out at welly-wearing politicians jostling for the best photo opportunities

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2556595/Defence-Secretary-Philip-Hammond-berated-live-TV-flooded-residents-feel-abandoned.html#ixzz2t2URmDq6
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Just look at all the shiny new wellies.   

[bb1]

At least someone still has a sense of humour.   

[lily]

Ah, thank you Bonny.  

What a dreadful situation for the people.  If this were a private corporation, people would be demanding their money back.

[lily]

At least someone still has a sense of humour.   

Is that Smith or Pickles or the other one?

[bb1]

http://news.sky.com/story/1210020/m2-closed-by-15-metre-deep-sinkhole

It is unclear whether the hole, which is 2x5 metres across, is related to the floods.

Oh, it couldn't possibly have anything to do the floods.   

They do know that water does what it wants, and doesn't just stay in concrete pipes?

[Sabot]

Fury at the Westminster 'flood tourists': Fed-up families hit out at welly-wearing politicians jostling for the best photo opportunities

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2556595/Defence-Secretary-Philip-Hammond-berated-live-TV-flooded-residents-feel-abandoned.html#ixzz2t2URmDq6
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Just look at all the shiny new wellies.   

On Expenses.

I am a frightful snob about Wellies, and my last pair, bought a year ago, cost me 75 EUros. And they weren't the most expensive.
But at least I paid for them myself.

[lily]

http://news.sky.com/story/1210020/m2-closed-by-15-metre-deep-sinkhole

It is unclear whether the hole, which is 2x5 metres across, is related to the floods.

Oh, it couldn't possibly have anything to do the floods.   

They do know that water does what it wants, and doesn't just stay in concrete pipes?

Watching the video in which the Professor explains how sinkholes come about, I guess that is just the start of more.......

Isn't there a lot of chalk in Kent and down south?

[Sabot]

I have been battling with a bout of hysterical laughter coning on all day. Sorry about that. I know it isn't funny.

[bb1]

It's the truly epic scale of the shambles, Sabot. If the only people being affected were MPs and fat cat quango and bank bosses, the entire nation would be laughing.

Unfortunately, these morons have inflicted this on other people, not themselves.

[lily]

Sorry Sabot.  Hey, this disaster has been made disgustingly worse by some right holes.  

Yes, Bonny.  If this was visited upon them people would only be concerned as to the amount of money they were selfishly spending.
When it's not their concern, something almost evil happens.  Well it is evil.

[bb1]

Somerset had been under water for WEEKS without Cameron bothering. He only stirred himself when Prince Charles donned his OLD wellies and visited - and Salmond told him to go and sort out Somerset.

The Sikh community got involved, as did other civilians, before the politicians even stirred out of their offices. And the flood warden lady had to beg for help on Sky News.

It's a bloody disgrace.

[lily]

Where would the politicians be without the people?  They are supposed to serve them, not show contempt towards them.

Prince Charles showed himself a leader who knew about and was interested in the problems but Cameron showed himself an incompetent wimp.  He probably didn't even own a pair of wellies until a few days ago.

[lily]

What on earth are those bulges on his face?  Does anyone know as he does look fat in the jowls from the front?

[bb1]

Oh. Maybe he really is a Lizard?

[lily]

He doesn't look particularly human in that shot......         

[bb1]

[lily]

That should lift people's spirits no end.

[bb1]

I wonder if Cameron and co grasp just how angry their constituents are:

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