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Council warns of delays to school transport and substation flooding still under control





The council is urging parents of children who usually rely on a bus service to get to school to contact the service provider before travelling.
While the weather was not as severe as initially forecast, the impact from the previous few days took its toll on the district with properties flooded in Eastbury, Purley, Great Shefford, Theale, Newbury and Shaw.
The district council sent pumps to alleviate the impact of flood water to Eastbury and Great Shefford.
Newbury MP Richard Benyon, district council ward members Gordon Lundie and Graham Jones and army troops from the 7th Battalion The Rifles also headed to Eastbury to help deliver sandbags around the village.
Pictured is a photograph tweeted by Mr Benyon this afternoon, and below it shows Eastbury High Street at 5.30pm today (credit Nina Frost).
Troops from the 7th Battalion The Rifles were once again present at the Pingewood substation in Burghfield after water from the River Kennet began flooding parts of the outside of the station, and a high capacity pump was sent by the fire service.
The substation powers tens of thousands of homes across the Thames Valley, however at 5.45pm today Scottish and Southern Electric spokesman Ed Black said that the water level was still being maintained and no properties had experienced a loss of power as a result.
However, some residents in Purley (pictured third is
Wintringham Way this afternoon) reported a loss of electricity this afternoon (Sun) as rising floodwater in properties caused fuse boxes to trip.
Several parts of the district have also fallen victim to groundwater flooding as the rain fell on already heavily saturated ground.
Among the worst hit areas in Newbury was Northcroft playing fields (pictured) and Northcroft Lane.
Also today, the communities secretary Eric Pickles blamed the Environment Agency for “bad advice” for the severe flooding in Somerset and warned that more flooding is likely to extend into the Thames Valley by the middle of next week.
No further rain is now forecast until Tuesday morning, with a yellow warning due to come into force at 3am.
Remember to keep us updated with the flooding where you are.
Email your photographs and information to report Ellis Barker at ellis.barker@newburynews.co.uk



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