Mystery flood ruins crops at Canvey allotments (From Echo)

Mystery flood ruins crops at Canvey allotments

9:20am Friday 29th June 2012 in Local News By Lauren Hockney

ALLOTMENT crops have been destroyed by a mystery flood on Canvey.

As many as 15 plots on the site, off Canvey Road, have been “seriously affected” by the deluge of water, but the flood is not being put down to rain.

Keen gardener John Rose, from Canvey, has had his plot for more than five years, but has said he would be “better off keeping ducks” after the flood destroyed every crop he had been growing.

He estimates he has lost about £200, which was spent on things such as compost and seeds, and wasted eight months’ work.

He said: “There was about four inches of water laying on the surface and it seemed to be getting worse.

“I don’t know if there’s a burst pipe somewhere, but no one is taking a great deal of interest now the allotment’s been taken over by the council.

“I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. You think about all the work and money, and you look forward to it, as growing your own always tastes better, but now it’s ruined.”

Investigations are now beginning at the nearby Castle Point Golf Centre, in Somnes Avenue, Canvey, which has also become flooded.

Debbie Brown, administration manager for the course, said the water problem was brought to her attention on Tuesday.

The course has since switched off its water pump and called in an Essex and Suffolk Water engineer to try to establish the cause of the leak.

Canvey Town Council, which owns the course land, said people affected by the flood should contact golf centre management.

A town council spokeswoman said: “Castle Point Golf Course is looking into its sprinkler system at the moment as the course is flooded as well.

“We recommend that if any individual plot owner has suffered because of this, then to write to Glendale, which is responsible for the golf course, about compensation.”