Alkham Village Green Photo: Hawkinge Gazette
Following on from a forecast of flooding in Alkham, Dover in last month’s village newsletter article, by editor Brian Wimsett, his prediction has proved remarkably accurate.
This month the newsletter has followed up with the state of play of the village green, which doubles as a cricket pitch in the summer.,
It tells of a farmer from Chalksole, Melven Kirby, who has been monitoring the rainfall for the environment agency for more than three decades.
He says it’s the worst he has ever seen, except for the year 2000, when the village green also became a massive pond and the whole area was submerged.
Melven recalls the sewers were clogged, the roads were impassable, and the village hall was ruined.
KCC urges residents to call their emergency line if they face any danger from the rising water. The numbers are 03000 41 81 81 during working hours and 03000 41 91 91 after hours. You can also check the water level online at https://riverlevels.uk/river-dour-alkham-valley-borehole.