THAMES IN FLOOD

Evening Star, Issue 22228, 4 January 1936, Page 11

THAMES IN FLOOD

LARGE AREAS UNGER WATER MANY ROADS UNFIT FOR TRAFFIC (British Official Wireless;) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, January 8. (Received January 4, at noon.) There is a further increase in the areas under water owing to floods in parts of the Thames Valley, hut in the upper reaches a local Thames Conservancy official expressed the view that the floods were now on the point of receding. Lower down the river conditions show no improvement, and at Windsor, although the stream is steady, there was a rise of about one inch. From the Bound Tower of Windsor Castle stretches of water are to he seen on ail sides, and the.water has invaded the private grounds of the castle, Parts, but not all, of Eton playing fields are under water, and certain roads are closed to traffic. Interference with road traffic, which is being temporarily diverted in many parts of the country, is causing considerable congestion elsewhere. Important roads in Buckinghamshire, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, the South Midlands, and in the eastern and western counties are still reported unfit-for motor traffic. CONTINUED RAIN FORECAST RUGBY, January 3., (Received January 4, at 1 p.m.) ■ Although the flood conditions in many districts of the Thames Valley were again worse to-day and the rate of flow of the river is now over 9,000,000,000 gallons in 24 hours, continued rain is forecast for the next 24 hours at least. To-day the main Bath road through Maidenhead had to he closed owing to the depth of the floods, and diversion of the traffic through the narrow streets of Eton resulted in blocks and delays. The Great Western Railway hopes to effect temporary repairs to the Salis-bury-Devizes road bridge over the main line in time to render it safe for railway traffic again on Sunday.