Video transcript: different viewpoints – David2
The flood defence (2)

(Incorporating Lesson 1 – David and Lesson 4 – David1)

David: I have lived in Bewdley 14 years now, and 13 floods!

Q:  How has the flooding affected you personally?

David: Consequently over the last few years, as the flooding got worse, our life really did change, because we had to alter our lifestyle every single winter because we knew that the house would flood, and we’ve had to adapt the house so that the problems that the floodwater brought were lessened to a degree.

Q:  How do you feel about the new flood defences?

David:  The flood defences are the best things that happened to Bewdley for years.  It’s changed the lives of everybody, certainly this side of the bridge, because the inevitable happened to us.  Every 12 months we would expect floodwater in the house, and it’s a tremendous mental strain, and a physical strain, to get all your personal belongings safe and sound, and to have the mental pressure taken off you is a wonderful thing, and it’s down to a fantastic piece of engineering, which is faultless.  I was expecting a lot of water in the house this year when the barrier was instated, but we didn’t get a drop, and it’s a peace of mind which I didn’t expect.  It’s wonderful.

Q:  I notice that you have got a ‘For Sale’ sign up.  Why are you moving now?

David:  After 14 years of living in the town, we now are moving.  It may seem a strange thing to say, but I would never have considered moving from Bewdley while this house flooded.  It’s been a very good and kind cottage to us over the years. We have an attachment with it and I couldn’t have left it thinking it would still have flooded.  But now I am confident that this house will never flood again, I don’t feel like I have got to look after it any more.  And because of the barrier, the property is now saleable, and we’ve been able to put it on the market, which means we can go on to a new challenge in life. My wife has a new job down south, so – a new future, and thanks to a very successful flood defence.