FOLLOWING the devastating flooding in Lower Priory and Haven’s Head in November, residents and business owners are doing their best to get back on their feet.
However, as the landlady of the still closed Priory Inn has explained to the Herald, it has not been easy having to deal with the many agencies involved with the clear-up, and the most difficult of all has been the insurance company.
At a meeting called by Glenda German, her regular customers met at the Kimberly public house in Milford Haven on Tuesday (Feb 5), to decide what is to be done about getting the pub re-opened following the insurance company’s refusal to pay out compensation.
The residents are united in their belief that the flood was caused by the culvert which drains water underneath Haven’s Head Business Park being blocked.
Indeed, the Herald was on the scene a few days after the flooding and witnessed contractors for the Port of Milford Haven, Austwell, clearing out the culvert intake with a JCB-type excavator.
Glenda German told the meeting of her regular customers that she hoped to get the pub open soon, but it would only be with their help, and if everyone pulled together ‘it would be possible’.
She told the Herald: “I do have limited savings but it’s thank to you, my regular customers, we can get it re-opened. I really miss having you around and I’m sure you all miss drinking in The Priory.”
The meeting was told that Stephen Crabb MP had written to the insurance underwriter to express his concern that a pay-out was not being made.
Nathan McGee agreed to help with the electrics, Chris Bevan will help with the plumbing, Nigel Swan will be co-ordinating the renovation of the pub as project manager, and editor of the Herald, Tom Sinclair, will be donating £500 towards the project – along with a beer fridge, and agreed to help locate a second hand kitchen.
Other regulars said they will help with painting, decorating and cleaning up.
Glenda added: “We have to get the pub open first, but we also need to take legal action against the Port of Milford Haven.
“This is clearly the fault of the Port, I believe everyone agrees they are at fault, and those who have been flooded and had their lives turned upside down deserve justice – and to be compensated for what they have lost due to the neglect of the culvert.”
Residents of Lower Priory and Haven’s Head will be meeting councillors for a further discussion on the way forward generally on February 14.
The Port, however, denies that it is responsible for the incident. Tim Bownes, Engineering Director at the Port, released a statement saying that the flooding was not caused by any failure to act. He said it was caused by ‘two days of heavy rainfall, combined with extremely high tides combined with a tidal surge of up to half a metre.’
Mr Bownes also said that water was ‘flowing as expected’ down the Port’s culvert system on November 8
