Villagers blame farmers for floods

Villagers were washed out on Christmas Day

Residents of Crowlas near Penzance are furious at being flooded eight times since last November.

Many of those forced out of their homes believe that changes in farming practices may have contributed to their problems.

Residents held a public meeting on Thursday and a group of farmers agreed to help, by putting in barriers to prevent water rushing off the fields.

Mark Squire: Blames farmers

Some people in Crowlas have been living in upstairs rooms since the first floods and others have had to move out of their homes altogether.

The Gallagher family who run a newsagents went to stay with relatives in November and were hoping to move back.

Then they were flooded again on New Year's Eve.

Mother-of-two Kate Gallagher said: "We went to live in Hayle. We lost everything so we had to move out."

Some villagers blame the removal of hedges and the way fields are ploughed.

Trench plan

Mark Squire said: "There are certain farms around here where hedgerows have been removed and we appear to be getting more flooded.

"I have been told that this issue could be addressed by reinstating the hedges."

John Richards: Worst season

Farmer John Richards said: "It's the worst season that many can remember.

"We have done all we can to stop it, but water runs downhill."

But after a meeting in the village, a group of farmers have agreed to help.

The aim is to form a barrier or a trench to stop the water running off.

The Environment Agency is also considering a flood relief scheme for the village.

On Christmas Day a group of residents blocked the A30, the main road through the village, to draw attention to the flooding and they say they will take action again if necessary.