By Tilly Walder
A distressed daughter reached out to the local press this week, after Wednesday's storm flooded her mum's and neighbours' properties in Gunville, leaving them "destroyed".
Beth Manton went on to detail how this has happened for the second year in a row, and now none of those affected will be having a normal Christmas. Instead, they will be spending it in a Travelodge. She said: "Last year in October, they [her mum and neighbours] were constantly ignored, and treated unfairly during the flooding. My hope is to help my mum and everyone who has been let down by the council and others."
A spokesman for the Isle of Wight Council said: “The council’s out of hours service logged one call requesting sandbags to be sent to Gunville Road, but no other calls were made to report any flooding incidents overnight. Isle of Wight Council officers have been out in communities this morning (Wednesday) responding and will continue to do so throughout the day. Island Roads have also been out since 2.40am clearing gullies in the Gunville area.
“At this time, we continue to urge residents to report any urgent flooding incidents via the Environment Agency incident hotline: 0800 80 70 60. For any other flooding enquiries, contact the Isle of Wight Council on 01983 823600.”
Speaking to Beth's mum, Amanda Tomlinson, she detailed how they had been promised to be re-homed permanently.
"We were told it would be like for like, but it's been said we could be downsizing! Why should I have to start selling my possessions? I don’t feel like i should have to give up any more."
On the back of this, a spokesman from the Sovereign Network Group explained: “We are working with our customers in the affected properties to support them and we have been in contact to confirm will meet the costs of storage while it is needed.
"We are also working with one customer to rehouse them in a property suitable to their needs. There is a severe shortage of affordable housing on the Island, and we are working as fast as we can.”
Isle of Wight Observer