Mutton head is there among ‘strongest matches’ in my thesaurus for idiot but you could opt for ‘moron’, ‘nincompoop’ ‘blockhead’ or ‘dork’ to label motorists who still believe driving through Welney Wash Road is a good idea. Despite the all the warning signs, and physical barriers, some still believe risking all to save a few miles is worth it: clearly it isn’t.
But that still fails to deter those who have been forced to abandon their cars on the flooded A1101 road that links Norfolk with Cambridgeshire at Welney.
And one of those caught out this week was a taxi with a passenger on board.
“If anyone is waiting for a taxi from the south side of the washes it’s going to be late!!!,” observed Welney Flood Watch, the acclaimed voluntary Facebook group set up to advise communities of the current levels of the water.
Today the group noted that although river levels at Welney Wash have not risen quite so much overnight as earlier this week, they remain at 3.04m, peaking at 3.07m earlier with the tidal effect.
Which means there is between 26 and 30 inches of flood water on the road in the deeper area.
“It is on a steady rise at the moment with the tide effect and this could add another 2 or 3 inches,” says the group, repeating the advice to find another route.
Helpfully it reminds its 11,000 Facebook followers that help is available if they get trapped.
“If anyone needs the help of a recovery vehicle to rescue/remove a stranded vehicle Peter from City of Ely motors contacted us to say they have adapted recovery vehicles and have experience of recovery in Welney wash,” says the group.
Several vehicles – thought to be at least three – remain stranded and abandoned at the moment despite passing “fully functioning flashing signs” on route to meet their watery fate.
Unfortunately, tractor and trailers – which still seem able to get through – are finding their safe passage interrupted by abandoned cars.
“Every time a vehicle wave passes the abandoned vehicle it bobs about a bit more and can cause more of a problem,” observes Welney Flood Watch.
This is the latest statement from the Environment Agency. It says:
River levels are rising steadily in response to recent heavy rainfall. Flooding is expected on the Hundred Foot (Ouse) Washes for several days. This information is correct as of 7:30am on 13/12/23.
The causeway at Earith currently has water on the road. The causeway at Sutton Gault has approximately 63cm of water on the road. The causeway at Welney currently has approximately 70cm of water on the road.
Norfolk County Council have closed Welney causeway.
For more information about the causeway at Welney, please visit the ‘Welney Flood Watch’ Facebook group.
Please note that the content of this group does not represent the views of the Environment Agency.
Due to the uneven surface of the roads, water may be deeper in places. Floodwater is travelling down the River Great Ouse towards the Ouse Washes which will keep levels high for several days. Avoid driving through floodwater.
We are monitoring the situation.
We will update this message by 6pm today, 13/12/2023.
