Business urged to plan for floods

Sussex Ambulance Service has taken action since flooding in 2000

Businesses in Sussex are being urged to put action plans in place in case there is a repeat of the floods which devastated Lewes nearly five years ago.

The Environment Agency says many are only just starting to recover from the £80m-worth of damage caused when 800 properties flooded in the town.

The agency said others should follow the lead taken by Sussex Ambulance Service, whose HQ was flooded in 2000.

The measures it put in place include a pump in the building's basement.

Early alerts

"We have equipment in the basement that acts as a sump and we've got a huge pump down there," said Steve Tilling of Sussex Ambulance Service.

"If any more water gets into the building at least we stand a chance of pumping it out."

"We also make sure we take note of early warning alerts from the Environment Agency."

Floods which cut off Carlisle in Cumbria earlier this month were a reminder of what could happen, the agency said.

The agency, which is spending more than £23m on flood defences in Sussex this year, has prepared an online guide to flood planning for businesses which can be found on its website.