LES BANQUES residents are still feeling the effects of Sunday’s sewage flood.
Jeanine Black, 64 (pictured) lives in 3, Durrington Court, where the car park and garages were inches deep in liquid that flowed up from the neighbouring pumping plant.
‘It is very upsetting for all concerned – some were almost in tears. It was a great shock,’ she said.
She moved into her first-floor flat in June. ‘It’s the poor people on the courtyard level who suffer most,’ she said.
‘One house on the ground floor had liquid flowing into the hall.’
Mrs Black, who is semi-retired due to ill health, was at church when the problem started.
‘When I was dropped back home, I saw a fire engine in the road and became worried,’ she said.
‘Then, to my horror, I saw everyone standing in the liquid with their trousers rolled up and wellington boots on.’
She said kind neighbours had already started moving belongings from her garage in her absence.
‘I am very grateful. Everybody pitched in to help each other.’
Mrs Black thought States Works staff should be commended for their efforts to control the damage.
‘They had a hefty job of shifting sandbags and managing the problem and they worked right through. When I awoke at 3.30 the next morning they were still working and a large digger and pumps were in place,’ she said.
She was also impressed by what Public Services minister Bernard Flouquet, who was at the scene until 1am, had to say.
‘I commend him for his compassionate comments,’ she said.
‘He and other deputies are going to great lengths to sort out Guernsey’s sewage problems as soon as possible and it is one of the biggest issues facing the island.’
Roger Brookfield, 61, who lives at Belgrave Terrace, said the flood was yet another problem that could and should have been avoided by sorting out the island’s sewage issues a long time ago.
‘Its no good putting it off, Guernsey needs a proper sewage treatment system. This has to be addressed,’ he said.
He has lived on the seafront for 11 years and in St Sampson’s for most of his life.
‘My son’s boat is out in the bay. We have crab pots and recently we have had to row through the sewage to get there,’ he said.
‘I also go ormering in the bay, but I really don’t think I will be doing it this year.’
Article posted on 5th August, 2008 - 2.29pm
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