BERT Log Part 1 (December 2013 - March 2016)

April 3 2016

Brockham Emergency Response Team and Brockham Emergency Volunteers

A Significant and Successful Community Initiative Part One Robert Bartlett MA (Cantab) Brockham March 2016

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Introduction

Brockham is situated in the heart of Surrey two miles to the east of Dorking and surrounded by open farmland with views of Box Hill to the north. The village has two distinct but not separate communities, Strood Green and Brockham Green. The lane off the A25 through the village to the south is well used by through traffic to Gatwick airport and the Crawley/Horsham area. This road crosses Brockham Bridge over the River Mole, which has a tendency to flood. This flood is normally predictable as Betchworth bridge floods first. When both bridges are flooded traffic from the south has to head to the A24 to get around Brockham. There is a further bridge in Old School Lane that crosses Tanners Brook, normally a benign stream through which flows the water from a range of drainage ditches from the south of the village. Following significant rainfall the brook becomes a torrent and the road is often covered in water and closed. This brook led to the flooding of a number of houses in December 2013.

Brockham has a robust community fostered over many generations, made resilient because people from all walks of life live within the parish who are able to manage and deliver a wide range of activities. This is very evident with the annual Bonfire, which 20-25,000 people attend. There is a strong “can do” and “will do” attitude that drives projects and delivers results.

The 2011 census for Brockham lists 1077 houses with an additional 104 1 flats and apartments many of which will be within sheltered accommodation some 26% of the whole. The population of the civil parish is 2,868 living within 690 hectares.2 These figures are of interest when considering Community Email, a system established 10/12 or so years ago as a form of electronic neighbourhood watch. There are about 350 subscribers to the scheme (Nov 2014) most but not all, resident in the village. The scheme is linked to other villages and so it is possible to communicate quickly over a wide area. This scheme is crucial to the management of information and activity during a weather event or other crisis. During the Christmas crisis of 2013 the system allowed for the immediate gathering and transfer of information. Acting as a focal point for information from local people and local authorities the scheme became a strong driver for providing information, help and assistance. For the BERT and BEV organisation to be replicated these benefits need to be in place to give a chance of success.

Community email run by Robert Bartlett since its inception has been incorporated within the BERT organisation. Membership in September 2015 was about 450 households and businesses. The scheme is also linked to surrounding villages. This has assisted with fund raising, recruiting volunteers, maintaining contact with volunteers, gathering information on problems within the village and arranging working parties.

The development of Bert is set out below. The role of BERT is not to be a first responder or a part of the emergency response but as soon as is practicable respond to calls for assistance within the community of Brockham mostly following or during a severe 1 2

Parish council records has the total 1215 households Nov 2014 Wikipedia

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April 3 2016 weather event, or protracted power outage. It is recognised that if the event is localised a great deal of help will be available from outside the village but if a regional event such as the Christmas and New Year floods it is acknowledged that Brockham may well be a low priority as there is no vital infrastructure within the area.

A significant part of the adopted task for the Team is prevention and over time, the major drainage ditches have been cleared as far as possible to ensure the water escapes to the Mole as quickly as possible to be ready for the next rainfall. The work is undertaken with the agreement of the landowner or household and has been seen by the community as a major flood prevention initiative. The publicity and activity has led to farmers and householders cleaning out and maintaining their drainage ditches. The legal duty of riparian rights has been extensively broadcast within the community.

The teams are established; their use hopefully, will be limited, so there is a responsibility for the leadership to ensure some team/volunteer cohesion/training and understanding to maintain enthusiasm and capability.

From the start, the principle has been that anyone over the age of 13 can become involved in the teams. Maintenance deployments have seen mixed teams of men and women and lads of all ages. In November 2014 the youngest team member deployed in atrocious weather was 13 and the oldest 70.

Developing the concept

Following the Jubilee in 2012 there was money left and the organising committee allowed Simon Budd to buy three water pumps for use should a flooding event occur and houses threatened. Three pumps and ancillary equipment were purchased in January 2013.

Simon Budd established a small team of youngsters from Young Farmers and they learnt to use the pumps. Simon also attended a number of village meetings and clubs and showed the kit in operation. Consideration was given to how the team could be deployed to the benefit of the village.

At the Village Weekend, 2013 Simon and Mick Bent with a number of the lads had a small stand showing the equipment that was available for deployment in the village.

The group had no name but is clearly the start of the emergency response team.

Robert Bartlett saw the display and recognised the potential of the concept, developing the idea of BERT, Brockham Emergency Response Team. Dated July 2013 the following shows the early concept: Simon Budd has developed BERT with the financial support of the Brockham and Strood Green Jubilee Celebrations committee. Stored on a trailer in the village are a number of water pumps, lighting, sandbags and general emergency equipment all available to respond to help residents of the parish during an emergency particularly flooding.

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4 Robert Bartlett After discussion with Simon Budd this was accepted. There was now a lull literally before the storm. During this period significant local publicity was given through Community Email for the need to ensure householders maintained the ditches around their property. This had an effect and many people took to clearing ditches and maintaining them. Simon Budd continued to visit local organisations to advise them on the availability and capability of the existing equipment. At this stage there was no additional funding and so the level of kit and equipment was not extensive and it was anticipated that the organisation would be based around young people.

On the 24 December severe flooding struck Brockham when Tanners Brook, the River Mole and drainage ditches all overflowed causing widespread inundation of homes, gardens and roads. The main road through the village, and the secondary route Old School Lane was underwater allowing access only from the south. Much of the flooding was surface water, or from Tanners Brook. Blocked culverts and some badly maintained ditches contributed to the flood.

The Christmas 2013 floods saw the deployment of the pumps on the 24 December in Strood Green and Middle Street and BERT and BEV was born under the pressure of events and over the coming days using Community Email to gather and circulate a range of information and advice. Calls for help were responded to in the early stages

by Bob Thomas and Steve Thorpe, with Simon Budd giving helpful advice from behind the butcher’s counter in the village on the busiest day of their year. The young lads of the team deployed with the pumps and using their pedal go carts became a visual reminder of the response of the community.

It soon became clear that a significant number of houses had been inundated in Brockham and Strood Green and gardens, outbuildings and roads were also flooded. A number of motor vehicles had also been destroyed. It was not long before The Borough Bridge was closed as the Mole burst its banks. Tanners Brook raged through a number of houses flooding and closing Old School Lane. In Strood Green blocked gulleys and ditches combined with widespread volumes of surface water flooded houses, outbuildings and gardens. The community responded and across the parish people were 4

April 3 2016 seen helping their neighbours, slowing traffic, trying to get the water moving. The emergency services were deployed to the Borough Bridge where two men were sat on the roof of a van they had tried to drive through the flood. Contractors to the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service undertook a far more urgent rescue using boats after a taxi containing three people was washed away, fortunately not into the Mole but up a drive in deep floodwater. The vehicle overturned and lives were at risk.

The Christmas Flood 2013

The Borough alongside the River Mole

The Borough alongside the River Mole

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Men were rescued from the roof of the van, which had come from the north of the village. The water to the south of the bridge is always deeper than that to the north

24 December 2014 Borough Bridge from the north Surrey Fire Brigade contractors were in the village rescuing stranded motorists. Fire Brigade resources deployed to Brockham from as far as Woking and members of the team acted as guides.

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A taxi with a driver and two passengers were washed away off Borough Bridge and were very lucky not to drown. This drive is alongside the Mole and a very dangerous place when the river is in full flood.

Wheelers Lane. Most of the water is a result of a culvert suffering from tree roots not allowing the water to get away as quickly as it should. This led to the church basement flooding, parts of the school and the caretaker’s house also having a flood.

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Middle Street by the Pavilion- a number of houses flooded at this point. This is on the route of the main drainage system through to Tanners Brook from the south of the village. By this stage houses were flooded in Oakdene Road, Warrenne Road and Middle Green. The cause was not just the shear volume but the ditch mainly behind the pavilion in the recreation ground was clogged with everything from an old mower to builder’s rubble.

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Oakdene Road one of the worst hit parts of the village. The water has to go through a gulley alongside this house before it reaches Middle Street and the pavilion.

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Old School Lane

Old School Lane

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Old School Lane

Old School Lane

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Tanners Brook Old School Lane

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Old School Lane

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26 December 2014, Old School Lane by Tanners Brook Bridge a four-wheel drive drove into the flood thinking he could get through. Local man Derek Minor used his dinghy to rescue the driver and a number of passengers. The drivers of large vehicles remained a nuisance throughout the event, driving, sometimes at speed, through floods setting up a wash making life more difficult for householders and pedestrians. Some drivers were very abusive when asked to slow down.

A house in Tanners Meadow

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Tanners Meadow tide mark

26 December 2014 The Mole from the north. It is not unusual for the Mole to burst its banks and filling the fields either side of the bridge. However this was an extreme event with many parked cars ruined

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A house to the south of the village where BERT, Bob Thomas and Steve Thorpe attended and dug a channel across the garden taking the water direct to a drainage ditch to reduce the amount going into the house. Young BERT then delivered sandbags to build a dam to stop water getting into the kitchen. This was surface water off fields.

The consequences of the flood are immediate and very damaging not just to property but also to morale. Over 90 houses were flooded and forty evacuated for significant periods. It is believed that 20-parked cars were destroyed.

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It is difficult to know where to start but should it happen again BERT would, post event, organise teams to go to hard hit areas to help people salvage what they can and move out of the house what needs to be taken away. The local authority Mole Valley, responded by providing skips at key points in the village.

29 December in Old School Lane by Brookside Cottage where a number of homes were flooded and were evacuated.

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Demand and experience during the Christmas flood showed that two levels of volunteers were required: a. Those with specialist skills and equipment able to undertake physical work for extended periods – Adult BERT. The core of Young BERT existed but the emergency brought demands for heavy work beyond the capability of some of the youngsters yet they had a very useful role to perform. From this developed the concept of Adult and Young BERT. b. People willing to help their neighbours in a range of ways from providing comfort, liaising with insurance companies, filling in forms, staffing an evacuation centre, driving. During the crisis 30 names were added to what became the BEV, Brockham Emergency Volunteers.

The BERT structure soon evolved: Brockham Emergency Response Leadership Team Adult BERT 25 volunteers Male and female

Young BERT 10 volunteers All lads – no girls have asked to join

BEV 25 volunteers Male and female

Community Email3 About 390 subscribers Includes police, other parishes and some businesses.

The range of activities in the immediate aftermath of the flood of the BERT and BEV – BERT the more physical and BEV helping in anyway required 3

As at 24 February 2015

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a. Pumps deployed in houses on Christmas Eve at Strood Green and Middle Street

Young Bert with householder deploying the pumps for the first time. b. Liaised with SCC to obtain gulley-sucker to clear gulley Wheelers Lane by the church, which had led to flooding at the school and the church. c. Acquired large stock of empty sandbags, establishing public, sign-posted, sandbag collection point Young BERT undertaking delivery using their go-carts and trailers to help those unable to help themselves and placing bags at the threatened property. d. 26 December 2014 a sandbag collection point was established in Wheelers Lane. The sand bags came from Brockham Bonfire stores, and a local farmer provided the sand. (The sand was usually associated with the keeping of a dairy herd). After the event BERT funds i.e. collected from local people and organisations paid for the bags and sand.

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Sandbag filling technique – cut of the point of a cone, insert the cone upside down in the bag and shovel the sand. That is why practical people are needed! Tony Hines chairman of Bonfire joined in and kindly allowed the use of their equipment.

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Two of the Young BERT filled the bags whilst others delivered bags to those unable to come to the site. Deliveries were made after pedalling over a mile to some houses on go-carts towing a trailer. Very hard work! The lads worked for over 12 hours. They still use the go-carts but they have now been fitted with a range of lights. e. Late at night and early in the morning BERT members undertook reconnaissance of the village to identify issues and developing problems, which were then circulated on community email. f. Acting as guides to fire crews and ambulance crews from out of the area to get around flooded bridges and inaccessible route. g. There was difficulty in stopping people travelling to Brockham Bridge only to discover that the road was closed. The delivery of signs by the highway authority was slow and damage was done to tempers and verges as heavy vehicle tried to turn. Some drivers even when told they could not get through continued to the blocked bridge. Some tried to get through and were towed out.

BERT deployed road closed signs from Brockham Bonfire stores and established a reserve of signs on The Green for some weeks to allow people to deploy the signs as and when needed to avoid danger. Some of the signs were damaged and replaced at regular intervals.

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February 16 2014 sign bins were out for a few weeks h. Part of the learning was the need to have signs located at key points on both sides of the two bridges Old School Lane and The Borough. BERT has bought signs and will leave them with villagers to put out when the threat is high. This will allow motorists to be warned. The signs display a warning, as BERT has no authority to shut roads. i. Clear a blockage in Tanners Brook, which was threatening a second flood of houses. j. Chain saw a large tree which was down in Tanners Brook causing backlog of debris, all cleared out. k. Removed tree debris from a small garden, which was impeding access for the family with three small children. l. Cleared the Gad Brook of debris, which was impeding flow and threatening properties. m. Cleared pipe under road - Oakdene Road /Wheelers Lane to prevent flooding into Spring Cottage. This included clearing the ditch by Horton’s yard. This helped and twelve months on a number of attempts to keep the ditch open have been made, including on the 23 November. This is outside Spring Cottage, which may be a clue!

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Steve Thorpe Wheelers Lane Spring Cottage 8 February n. A long section of underground pipes were rodded from Dodds Park to Wheelers Lane allotments. This was repeated in November 2014.

o. 23 February 2014 Volunteers clear a drainage ditch from off a hill known as Chimney Pots that was threatening to flood houses in Oakdene Close. This was a significant task as there had been no maintenance of the ditch for some time. p. BERT cleared the ditch from Middle Street alongside the cricket pavilion across fields to Old School Lane removing significant rubbish and debris. Most of the bags of litter removed came from dustbins washed away during flood 24 December.

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This is an example of the debris found in the watercourses after a flood. This is from household bins where gardens were flooded. It had to be cleared quickly and BERT undertook this.

This bin was washed from someone’s garden into the main drainage ditch reducing flow significantly. It was jammed in and removed with some difficulty.

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22 February 2014 clearing main ditch through the village. Most of this material was found in the watercourse, one of the main drainage ditches, to the rear of the cricket pavilion in the recreation ground. Out of site dump it there! This debris caused the water to slow and build up causing some of the flooding in Middle Street. q. Bob Thomas and Steve Thorpe dug channels at Noyes End in Wheelers Lane where water was running off the hill, diverting water from the house, pumping out the drainage ditch and clearing it to enhance the flow of water from the site.

The house had water into part of the kitchen but the prompt action by members of the team stopped further or significant damage. r. Deployed two 3" pumps and 60m of hose at Hillside Gardens to remove vast amount of rainwater (estimated over 6' deep) run off collected in back gardens that was an old sand quarry. This took a number of days. s. Arranged BEV to assist householders with insurance claim forms and to negotiate with the insurance companies. This was very successful. One particular case where the company was being very unhelpful to an elderly couple was suddenly faced with the managing director of a significant company.

He was able to secure agreement almost immediately! t. Linked to local estate agent Michael Bray who coordinated the search for rental properties for those having to leave their homes. This was to allow people to make one point of call instead of traipsing around estate agents. Mr Bray provided a much-needed service and it is recommended that if this happens again, as part of any rest centre facility there is coordinated help for people seeking emergency accommodation. Through community interaction including Community Email identified available rental properties in village. Re-housing families with pets is more difficult.

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u. Acted as a link to a local charity to provide urgent financial assistance. This is not usually an immediate need but the non-insurable costs can be significant.

An example is where the insurers are working on the house and discover a range of issues that need addressing whist the floors are up or plaster off the walls.

This can be very costly and quickly eat into reserves. v. The church hall was secured as an immediate evacuation centre if the need arose along with volunteers to staff the centre. Compiled a list of Brockham Emergency Volunteers (BEV) able and willing to respond to calls for assistance.

(It was anticipated that once transport and access to Dorking was available people would be offered places at the MVDC Rest Centre) It was not necessary to action this part of the plan but in future, the church hall may become a control/evacuation centre. The Fire and Rescue Service believe that a central point of contact in the village for agencies and emergency service would be advantageous. w. Volunteers visited an elderly lady following a call for urgent help having had her home flooded some days before and told no one and the neighbours were unaware. This makes the point that street wardens have attractions. However, the complexity of organising and maintaining such a scheme outweigh the advantages. People are to be reminded during an event to look out for the vulnerable.

BERT Bob Thomas Hillside Gardens 18 February 2014 pumping out a number of gardens

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Brockham Bridge flooded again on 17 January 2014 and brought home the difficulty of people being shut off from their homes when the water is not necessarily deep. To this end BERT have bought a boat that also has a wheel, which makes it suitable to be pulled through shallow water.

Old School Lane 1 February 2014 was again flooded. BERT arranged through MVDC to open the Coach Road at the A25 end for residents to have access and for emergency services should they be needed.

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1 February 2014 Borough Bridge is again flooded

7 February 2014 more flooding – BERT volunteer Bob Thomas undertaking a reconnaissance and arranging signing. Young BERT took part in controlling the traffic over the bridge on a number of occasions.

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13 February 2014 The Mole at maximum capacity. These pictures clearly show that the Christmas flood was over an extended period although thankfully no more homes were flooded but there were scares.

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Simon Budd with Young BERT Dylan and Miles in the rain clearing water from a drainage ditch in Blind Lane so that it could be rodded to allow the water to escape.

Community information via Community email – grew from 170 to over 300 subscribers (November 2014 approaching 350) during and following the flood.

Bulletins issued constantly on the problems being faced from road closures to council tax, people seeking accommodation or future flood predictions based on Environment Agency warning and information from their websites. Many requests for help were received for information, guidance and advice, responding by deploying BERT team and volunteers as necessary. Many subscribers expressed their thanks for the service and there is little doubt this led to many of the generous donations. i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi.

Road/bridge closures Advice from authorities Offers of help Offers of furniture and equipment Offers of accommodation Helping flood victims with form filling

Where is BERT now? This was evidently an excellent idea that met a need and WORKED. There was a basic structure, which required to be formalised to ensure viability during any future severe weather event, to own and maintain the equipment and transparency following fundraising.

In January 2014 appeals went out via Community Email for volunteers to joint BERT or BEV. The condition was that if available, they would turn out to respond to a community need.

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April 3 2016 Formation of a Leadership Group: A group was soon formed under chairman Bob Thomas, Administrator Robert Bartlett, Quartermaster Simon Budd and two Assistant Quartermasters Steve Thorpe and Mick Bent. Christine Smart acts as an adviser on a range of issues and Doreen Bates, the secretary of Brockham Bonfire scoops up a number of tasks including uniforms and the village weekend display. Simon Budd who has the necessary Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, (previously CRB checks) from his work with Young Farmers. Once the direction was set there has been little need for formal meetings with most routine decisions made via email.

Funds and Accounts: In January 2014 an appeal was made for funding and about £6250 was raised in a few days. Most of the money came from individual donors but Poland House Charity, Helyn Clack SCC councillor made significant donations.

Organisations within the village were also kind enough to contribute, including the Bowls Club, Wednesday Club, Rainbows and Good Companions. The age range is from the very young to the retirement clubs of the village.

Seeking transparency as far as possible about the use of public funds and donations the leadership team negotiated with the Brockham Parish Council to have them act as “bankers”, working through the parish clerk Celia Plumb. The parish council therefore hold the funds and settle accounts with the approval of two from the chairman, administrator or quartermaster. BERT accounts are published publicly along with parish council accounts. The support and cooperation of the chairman and clerk of the parish council has been considerable.

Money is expended carefully with a significant reserve to meet any contingency following an event. A range of equipment has been purchased and is stored in a trailer bought with donations, and stored in a central village location.

Equipment includes a. Trailer, which is a horsebox with side and rear access. The trailer and equipment is insured via the Parish Council.

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b. Boat for use by pedestrians and NOT on the river. It was named Grant Ashley a member of the team who at his expense arranged for the boat to be brought from South Wales. The boat is stored within the trailer. c. Pumps and hoses including a number of small electrical pumps that can be used to pump out shallow water d. Uniforms/protective clothing and high visibility tabards purchased with a donation from team member Colin Truran. Young BERT has personal issue.

Experience in November 2014 indicates that it is not realistic to dry and maintain damp clothing. Therefore if the money can be made available there will be a personal issue of clothing. e. Snow shovels, issued and to be used by Young BERT to assist vulnerable people where they live. A stock is held on the trailer f. Tools of all types and sizes mainly for ditch maintenance – enhanced by volunteer’s own tools. g. Signs – advising bridge closed h. It is intended to purchase a camera and probe to enable a view to be taken of culverts to see if and how they are obstructed. i. A quantity of FloodSax is to be bought and held as a reserve to deploy when a home is in danger. These items are malleable and expand to fit a space once wet.

Briefings and development events

Part of the philosophy for Young BERT is to expose the volunteers to a range of experiences they may not have had access to without joining the team. It is foreseen that some of the lads who will pass through the team will in future years become community activist and leaders, provide they can afford to remain in the village. a. Fire extinguishers using them safely. This was held in June and was organised

by Young Farmers as a way of thanking Young BERT for their help with Cow Pie Rally.

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b. Water safety briefing from Surrey F&RS to be held hopefully early 2015 c. Pump maintenance to instruct Young BERT on how to care for the equipment. d. July 2014: Village weekend/display sale of fridge magnets with BERT emergency contact number

The large tractor and lorry were to show the type of vehicles that can be mobilised to support BERT should the need arise. Within a village there are a great many people wit useful skills, vehicles and equipment that can be deployed.

The boat more a push-me-pull-me than a river craft. The boat was named Grant Ashley a local man who used his staff to collect the boat from South Wales

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e. August 2014 Young BERT helped with the car parking at a charity event for which they were rewarded with a day on an assault course, which was very muddy and challenging.

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Simon Budd after the assault course. Simon’s home was flooded at Christmas and his family were evacuated for several months but this did not stop his ever cheerful contribution to the well-being of the village.4

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Photographs of the assault course Karen Cargani a BERT volunteer

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f. September 2014: A briefing on the plans and ideas was held in the church hall where Young and Senior Bert, as well as BEV participated.

Recognition of BERT’s contribution: 19 March 2014: Dame Sarah Goad the Lord Lieutenant presented certificates of Gratitude to show her appreciation of BERT’s outstanding community spirit. She met key BERT players and made the presentation with a speech of congratulations. Deputy Lieutenants Lady Corrina Hamilton and Lady Louse O’Connor were present.

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April 3 2016 Miles Creswell the team leader receiving his certificate

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The original Young BERT with Simon Budd and Leadership member Doreen Bates 'Above and Beyond' Customer Service Awards: An important part of the response over Christmas was led by Bob Thomas and Steve Thorpe both local men who work for MVDC. Their contribution was recognised by MVDC for undertaking a range of duties and tasks above and beyond what was expected of them Reception: 14 July reception at Pains Hill Park hosted by the Lord Lieutenant for those involved in helping their communities during the flooding, to which about a 25 local people involved with BERT were invited.

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April 3 2016 Meeting the High Sheriff at Pains Hill

The invitation said suits – so proud parents bought suits!

Reception: Also in July the chairman of BERT Bob Thomas and Young BERT members attended a reception where they met the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester who thanked them for their contribution.

Photo for the Dorking Advertiser – note the trademark go-carts First World War Commemoration: September 2014: The Young BERT was invited to help as stewards at the village commemoration on the 4 August of the First World

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High Sheriff: On the 19 October the High Sheriff Mr Peter Lee visited Brockham and the BERT team who displayed the kit and equipment. Whilst in the village, BERT arranged for the High Sherriff to meet the Bonfire Team and Young Farmers. Tea was taken at Teas on the Green in the church hall hosted by Young Farmers.

Robert Bartlett presenting the High Sheriff with a BERT tabard which he insisted on wearing for the remainder of his visit. Helyn Clack SCC, Roger Hammond the chairman Brockham parish council and Simon Budd, BERT Quartermaster with particular responsibility for Young BERT. 42

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Simon Budd with the High Sheriff

Young BERT during visit of High Sheriff

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44 Robert Bartlett Prevention and maintenance: One of the causes of the widespread flooding was the lack of maintenance of the drainage ditch system throughout Brockham and Strood Green. Ownership can be complicated and if one part of the system is obstructed the whole can fail or be less effective. It was soon obvious that this was an area that BERT could significantly contribute to the well being of the community and a range of activities have taken place involving both Adult and Young BERT working together.

12 February 2014 in Blind Lane on the path to the allotments pumping out a ditch before an obstruction can be cleared

February 2014: Steve Thorpe opposite Spring Cottage, Wheelers Lane

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9 March 2014 garden clearing after a tree was blown down. Garden almost totally covered in the tree and there were three young children

23 March 2014 Old School Lane BERT: Tree down obstructing Tanners Brook.

BERT deployed with specialist vehicles and cutting gear. Tree taken down and removed from the ditch.

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19 September briefing for BERT and BEV in the church hall

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Brockham Emergency Response Team Ditch Maintenance Sunday 12th October

Oakdene Road Warrenne Road Middle Green

Join the work party to tidy up and clear the stream that runs across Oakdene Road, through to Warrenne Road, across the back of Middle Green and then to the cottages opposite the Pavilion car park on Middle Street.

Remember the devastation the failure of this water course caused last winter?

Let’s reduce the risk of it happening again by clearing out all the rubbish and cutting back plant growth.

Meet at the Cricket Pavilion Car Park 09 30 - 1200 hrs Wear suitable clothing & footwear, bring pruners/rakes etc BrockhamResilience@outlook.com 01302 GO BERT

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12 October 2014: Some of the volunteers for major ditch clearing starting from Middle Street working back through Middle Green, Warrenne Road, Oakdene Road and to the Middle Street allotments following the main drainage ditch.

Young BERT with the chairman

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Some of the vegetation removed from the ditch at Oakdene Road- Bob Thomas

12 October 2014 Jetter deployed for the first time 50

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The jetter

Very hard going at the allotments – Paul Edwards with the chain saw

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Starting from either end the teams meet up.

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23 November 2014: Completing the other part of the main drainage ditch maintenance.

Had to wait until after bonfire as some of the volunteers were on both teams!

The following was circulated via community email to give the village some idea of what was being achieved: We all got VERY wet! This did not stop a great deal of work and the water was flowing very well from the pavilion through to the bridge in OSL. This means that attention has been given from the Middle Street allotments, through Oakdene, Warrenne Road to the OSL Bridge. Before this area Simon Dumas Moat House Farm has spent a great deal having his ditches dug out and extended around his field system. The Hamilton estate have started on their ditching on the south side of the very large field behind Wheelers Lane towards Weir Mead Farm. Work has also been undertaken at Old Cottage and Noyes End. The residents of the cottages on the left going south in Middle Street backing onto Moat Farm have cleared the ditch to the front of their homes.

It is anticipated that a 4-man team will be deployed with the jetter when the team is available and the conditions right. Today the water was too deep to use the equipment.

Well done to all. Ages ranged from 13-70 working together as a team

One of the teams led by Colin Truran cleared the middle section of the ditch avoiding Dead Man’s Hole on the riverbed on the bend. Allegedly six feet deep! Local resident Una Duffy a cave rescue expert acted as safety adviser when working close to the water.

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Colin Truran and Clive Roberts

Another four-man team, unable to work in Tanner’s Brook cleared all the overhanging vegetation within their section.

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Colin Truran in his wet suit as the water got deeper as the rain did not ease off

Paul Edwards behind the Pavilion with his team cleared an extensive area of the main drainage ditch – Paul is usually seen with a chain saw, but he has kept it close by!

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Seb, a Young BERT was out all morning as were a number of his team mates.

For almost a year residents have been in discussion with the utilities over the inability of the water to escape the system and re-flood their houses as on the 23 December 2013.

On the 23 November 2014 the team were with the farm manager from the Hamilton estate resolving a threat of a flood at Noyes End house when a call was received from the concerned residents at Tweed Lane. Responding in minutes a team of four, including Martin Clipperton the farm manager, started to unpick the drainage system and piece by piece cleared it of debris, hedge trimmings (a wheelbarrow full) and finally the 18 inch diameter sewer plug abandoned inside the drain shown above. Once this

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A significant threat and cause of flooding is blocked or congested gulleys and culverts under roads, or through buried pipes. These can be jetted or rodded but experience has shown that it is very useful to be able to see what is the cause of the difficulty. It was decided to buy an inspection system. In November 2014 BERT purchased a 30M Sewer Pipeline Inspection Camera System Drain Pipe Snake Monitor 7"LCD DVR. It is intended to use this equipment alongside the jetter, which together will remedy many local issues without recourse to the over-stretched and resource limited SCC Highway authority.

7 December 2014 The BERT team deployed albeit not as many volunteers as in previous weeks. The weather was not bad enough for some of the team to turn out!

The work clearing the ditch and Tanner’s Brook from the Middle Street allotments via Oakdene Road, back of the pavilion and on to the junction with Tanners Brook finishing at OSL by the bridge is now complete. This is the main drainage system for the village.

It was a heavy task but worth doing.

Residents and farmers have undertaken a considerable amount of work in Wheelers Lane and Wellhouse but it is not as it should be and in the new year hopefully BERT can take this challenge.

The jetter and camera were deployed in Old School Lane at the junction with the Coach Road a notorious road flood point. The jetter blasted out a quantity of soil and the whole system was given a thorough clean. Time will tell if this has made a significant difference during heavy rainfall. If the Brook cannot escape into the Mole then the road will always flood.

The camera was also used in Wheelers Lane opposite the church outside Church View.

There is a drain that feeds into the main ditch that then goes under the road. They discovered that following work by a utility the system was not as it should be so it was 58

April 3 2016 photographed using the new equipment and the pictures will be sent to the highway authority. You will be aware if you use the Lane that more and more water is gathering in the roadway by the church.

Simon Budd also visited a house in Strood Green where some fencing had been erected across a ditch interrupting the flow.

Mick and Ann Went who turn out for every BERT task

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Bob Thomas with the new camera

Colin Truran working in Tanners Brook with Young Bert collecting the cut vegetation

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Combining the camera and the jetter Bob Thomas and his team blast under Old School Lane cleaning out the pipes, grills and manhole. It is hoped this will reduce the flooding in Old School Lane by the Coach Road

A photo for the enthusiast

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The jetter and camera team

Toby and Thomas of Young BERT get stuck in with Mick and Ann Went

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James - we keep him well away from Dead Man’s Hole!

A contingency plan has been developed incorporating the local parish council who will be asked to attend the control centre during an event and to act as a link to the district and county councils. The plan allows for a move from a “Warning: phase to “Alert”. During Warning key players will be identified and the community email will be used to communicate with local people and relevant agencies.

Communications: A telephone system has been introduced which will allow people during a significant event, to call GO BERT. This will activate a call system that will ring a range of numbers until a BERT leader is found. If no one answers emails and

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64 Robert Bartlett text messages are sent containing a message left by the caller. This system was funded by a donation from the Bowls Club.

FloodSax: In January 2015 following a donation from a local household to which BERT responded with pumps during the Christmas flood, donated £250, which was used to purchase FloodSax. These are a 21st century version of the sandbag that can be stored indefinitely and deployed when a house is threatened. The bags are laid close to doors and as water approaches and dampens the bag they expand. Once used the sacks cannot be reused. They are not cheap and so enough for a dozen doors are held in stock with the hope of purchasing more should the need arise. This is a good example of why a financial reserve for BERT is essential.

From: http://www.floodsax.co.uk

And then there are times when you might want to divert water such as on this road where it was being pumped out of a flooded residential area and back into a pond or deep. British Waterways use them in canal locks undergoing renovation to keep water seeping in away from its staff carrying out the work.

People use FloodSax outside their homes to divert water away from air vents and directly down open manhole covers in to the sewers.

But they can also be vital in those little domestic emergencies. If you have a cracked pipe, your toilet has a blockage and is overflowing or water is pouring out of your bath, pop a FloodSax® under and it’ll soak up the water. If your washing machine has sprung a leak put a FloodSax® in front to stop it spreading. And after the flood has finished FloodSax® can play a vital role in

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April 3 2016 the clean-up and recovery stage. Pop them on the floor and they will soak up all the filthy floodwater with each bag absorbing 22 litres.

As money becomes available along with adequate storage more bags will be bought.

2015 3 January: BERT volunteer and assistant quartermaster Steve Thorpe noticed, when walking his dogs, that there was a culvert blockage in Blind Lane. He accessed the BERT trailer, using a centrally stored key available in a secure locking case, and took rods to the scene where he prevented the flood worsening and threatening Noyes End.

At this stage the water has begun to overflow the drainage ditches. These have recently been dug out and the culverts cleared.

The culvert has become blocked with hedge clipping although it was clear the day before

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Steve Thorpe roods the culvert as he did a number of others in the immediate vicinity

Almost immediately the water level dropped and the risk of flood is averted.

Alert 8 January 2015 A Flood Alert was called by the Environment Agency for the Mole from Kinnersley to Brockham. The river was rising but there was no indication of any surface water flooding or excessive water in the Mole. Thursday had seen torrential rain and the ditches were very full and the ground is waterlogged but the river and ditch water levels dropped significantly once the rain stopped. However following the notification of the Flood Alert at 2100 emails were sent to BERT and BEV volunteers to report availability for Friday 9th. There were about 20 volunteers available in the village during the working day including people who could tow the BERT trailer. Fortunately they were not required but the number available is reassuring. The bridge by the Bowls Club was flooded but the water dropped within the hour opening this important route into the village.

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On Saturday 10 January attention was given to a long-term issue where water floods the road in a lay-by close to the church and alongside a heavily used path. Two of the BERT team attended with rods, CCTV camera and basic tools. The drain cover was lifted and the culvert found to be completely blocked with leaf mould. In fact almost two wheelbarrows full of material were taken from the drain by hand.

Wheelers Lane by the church

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Water collects in this sump where the debris remains and the water flows away into the main channel under the Green. On clearing the sump it was found to have a hole in the bottom and the escaping water may well be undermining the road, which shows signs of occasional repair.

In the lay-by there is a second drain that takes the water into the main channel. There is an obstruction at this point.

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Some of the leaf-mould removed along with a tennis ball that was the main cause of the obstruction

The camera was inserted but there did not seem to be any broken pipes. However it is considered that there is a significant blockage at this point probably from tree roots.

There is a manhole close by but the tools available did not allow the very heavy cover to be lifted and is a task for SCC Highways with their specialist kit.

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The camera in operation during heavy rain during the survey of the lay-by drains. The camera has attracted interest in the village and it is anticipated that BERT will deploy to households with issues for a contribution to the equipment fund.

Monday 12 January 2015 volunteer Paul Edwards went into Tanners Brook off Old School Lane and removed a fallen branch off a tree that would have caused a severe obstruction to the flow of water. He did this after a day’s work in London and as Flood Alert was imposed on the Mole.

Tuesday 13 January: Bob Thomas and Bob Bartlett met with Bob Weston of Surrey County Council Highways. He was briefed and examined the collapsed piping outside Church View in Wheelers lane. The manhole cover outside the church that BERT were unable to lift on Saturday was lifted with specialist tools and the inside was seen to be clear and the water flowing. It was difficult to see if tree roots inhibited the water.

The grill in the ditch on the Green, which regularly blocks and during high rainfall periods needs to be unblocked once or twice a day, was considered. Bob Thomas proposed that a sloping grill might be more effective than a vertical one as this would allow the water to flow under trapped litter and vegetation. This will be raised at the Flood Forum on the 19 January.

The site of the leak on the Green on the slip road to the Royal Oak was visited. For some years this site has leaked with a flow of water down the hill to the Mole. This can be dangerous as it can freeze causing a hazard for road users. Bob Weston had a map that showed this was not an adopted road. Clive Roberts a resident off the slip road is adamant SCC have responsibility having tarmacked the road in recent years. It is hoped that soon BERT can deploy with a camera, meeting with Clive Roberts. However this may not be successful if there is water constantly in the system.

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72 Robert Bartlett Thursday 15 January: Heavy overnight rain pushed the drainage system towards its limits. In Wheelers Lane by the church the drainage ditches were full and water could not escape other onto the roadway and the school. This should not have happened.

BERT had cleared what was feasible given their equipment but had repeatedly told the SCC that there was a part blockage in the culver under the road. The following pictures show the result and the action taken by BERT

Access to the school through the normal entrance was denied because of water incursion after surface water unable to escape into the full ditch. BERT arranged through MVDC for sandbags to be made available at the request of the Head. They were but the school had to send staff to collect the bags from Dorking. Much later that morning MVDC made a further delivery of full sandbags.

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Not a good picture as it was quite dark when taken. However it shows the volume of water unable to escape under the road.

Children caught out without wellington boots had to be carried across the flood by the church

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This is totally caused by the partly blocked culvert

The plan was to pump the water off the road to rejoin the drainage system the other side of the blockage. BERT team members used their pumps to good effect

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The water was pumped some distance beyond the church hall

Bob Thomas not satisfied with a good drenching from the rain donned waders and got into the drainage ditch to rod the culvert. This was too big a job for the BERT jetter.

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Local farmer and district councillor John Muggeridge came to help, as did another local farmer Martin Clipperton.

These are FloodSax a fairly new product, which were brought to the school by a facilities manager from County Hall. BERT had already arranged a meeting with a representative of FloodSax for Friday 16 January, when BERT, the Parish Council chairman and MVDC

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Bert also responded to the Royal Oak on Brockham Green where the rain had flooded the cellar. Two electric pumps were deployed and the cellar pumped out in about two hours.

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Friday 16 January 2015: A call for help was received from a householder who suffered severe damage to his home in the Christmas Flood 2013. He had a cellar normally kept free of water by a pump but that had broken and water was seeping in.

BERT deployed electric pumps and left the householder to complete the task.

It is likely that once these small electric pumps are deployed they will be left with the householder, as it is not known for certain if they have been used in contaminated water.

They are not overly expensive and buying replacements is the best option. This particular householder has in the past made a donation to BERT Sunday 18 January: Following a request via a local councillor Simon Budd led a Young BERT team in clearing a ditch at the rear of the gardens in Silverdale Close, the bungalows off Glenfield Road. The request came from an elderly resident.

On Sunday the pre-positioned “bridge closed� road signs were collected from around the village.

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Young BERT in Silverdale Close Friday 16 January 2015: Chairman Bob Thomas and Robert Bartlett attended a meeting in the village with a representative of FloodSax the modern but not inexpensive version of the sand bag. The chairman of the parish council was present and he invited the representative to the March parish council meeting to demonstrate his products.

Consideration will be given to using community email to give residents the opportunity to combine to purchase sack for their home at an advantageous bulk purchase price.

BERT member Grant Ashley, who has a logistics business, has offered to receive the delivery, break down the load and deliver them to individual addresses.

Monday 19 January 2015 Chairman Bob Thomas and Robert Bartlett attended the Flood Forum in Brockham chaired by Surrey County Councillor Helyn Clack and attended by representatives of local councils at all levels and the Environment Agency.

BERT has developed knowledge of the drainage system and has been able to undertake 79

80 Robert Bartlett a range of preventive activities to the benefit of all the agencies as well as local people.

To assist stretched agencies BERT undertook to use the camera and possibly jetter to attempt to get an understanding of the cause of some of the local long-term difficulties and report to SCC Highways.

Thursday 22 January 2015: Chairman Bob Thomas and Robert Bartlett attended the inaugural meeting of a flood prevention group at Leigh. The group run under the auspices of the parish council were seeking some understanding of the difficulties and issues they would be confronted with.

Friday 23 January 2015: Bob Thomas returned to the culvert under Wheelers Lane by the church, which had now dried out. Using the camera he recorded a collapse in the culvert. About 2m under the carriageway is where the blockage seems to start probably a great deal of debris backing up against something more substantial further in. The video recording from the camera has been uploaded to the BERT youtube channel http://youtu.be/D3gNqcK3Gi8 After the video Bob removed the camera and worked a bit deeper into the pipe with rods but it could not be cleared. SCC Highways have been sent a link to the video with a request for urgent action to stop a repeat of the flooding.

Sunday 25 January 2015: The trailer was returned to its base after being fitted with racking. Young Bert organised the collection of the boat and reunited it with the trailer.

Young BERT has also purchased a number of radios, which seem to provide cover of most of the village. Consideration will be given to buying more for team deployments.

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The new racking donated with the wood and time donated by Paul Darling a local carpenter.

Monday 26 January 2015: SCC contractors came to jet under the road by the church to see if it could be cleared or if there was a significant collapse requiring new pipework.

There was an issue with a car parked over one of the manhole covers. The contractors were aware of the collapse off the road surface outside Church View, Wheelers Lane.

27 January 2015 From Leigh Parish Council: We may well take some inspiration

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82 Robert Bartlett from "BERT" and call ourselves "ALERT" (Action for Leigh Emergency Response Team) - I have suggested this, will see what the rest of the committee think. Caroline (Holford)

27 January 2015: BERT Quartermaster Simon Budd attended Brockham Parish Council meeting where he updated members on the recent activities of BERT. 30 January 2015: After two days work the SCC contractors working with Bob Weston were able to clear the culvert under the round, and with a great more difficulty the buried culvert around the edge of the church hall. Burying the culvert was undertaken some years ago believed by MVDC, but of course it is now almost impossible to stop it silting up particularly as there are two if not three bends in the pipe.

As a result of the work in Wheelers Lane, BERT submitted a report to the Flood Forum and Highway authority containing recommendations for future actions.

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2 February 2015: SF&RS: Chairman Bob Thomas and Bob Bartlett met with Steve Owen-Hughes assistant chief fire officer for SF&RS to explore ways that BERT and the fire service could support each other during a significant event. Many ideas were exchanged and a further meeting at the fire service HQ is to be held when a move will be made towards a memorandum of understanding.

2 February 2015: Simon Budd attended the parish council meeting and gave an update on BERT activities. He mentioned the practice of dropping hedge cuttings in ditches, an item reported in the Dorking Advertiser.

4 February 2015: Save Your Neighbour: BERT leadership team members attended a meeting called by Doug and Di Ross to consider a campaign to increase significantly the number of local people trained in CPR. This is a project for September 2015, which BERT will support.

6 February 2015: From Mole Valley District Council: Congratulations, You Have Been Nominated For A Youth Award On Friday 6th March 2015, Mole Valley Youth Council, “Youth Voice” will be holding their annual Youth Showcase Awards Ceremony at Dorking Halls at 7.30pm. This is organised as an ‘Oscars’ style event where the aim of the evening is to recognise the achievements of young people who have made an individual achievement in the community or through their creativity, achievements in sport, personal achievement or as a team. As well as the awards presentations, there will be performances from a variety of young local artists and groups.

This year, Youth Voice has chosen a futuristic theme.

Councillor Paul Potter has nominated young BERT for the Teamwork Award. This award is for achievements as a group or working together as a group to achieve a goal.

Please pass this invitation on to the young people: Freddie Carpenter Oliver Cawley Miles Cresswell Dylan Johnston-Donahue Toby Songhurst Lucas Wooley Toby Cobbold James Dickman Sebastian Fay Tom Mountey Ben Medhurst 6 February 2015: Working party called for 0930 Sunday 15 February 2015 to meet at the church in Wheelers Lane.

7 February 2015: Ann and Mick Went members of BERT who have never missed a working party, returned to the drainage ditch to the side of Middle Street Allotments to 83

84 Robert Bartlett cut back any growth since the major work in December 2014. This is in preparation for the working party of the 15 February

8 February 2015 At the request of district councillor John Muggeridge, Quartermaster Simon Budd and Young BERT team leader Miles Cresswell with members of Young BERT were asked to investigate a blocked manhole at the rear of Brewhouse /Glenfield Close which had caused a back up of surface water in the area.

Removal of the cover revealed a blocked 9-inch pipe. BERT dug a 6-foot hole at the side of the manhole by hand with spades and picks, exposing the 9-inch pipe, cleared the blockage then constructed a soak-away. Finally covering the hole with steel

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In the photo below parish councilor Morris Homewood came to inspect progress with much needed tea for the lads.

9 February 2015: At lunchtime there was a collision between a bus and a car by Borough Bridge. Once the accident was cleared a quantity of glass and debris was left in the road. This was seen as a hazard and the local authority was called but as it became dark the road had still not been cleared. Two Young BERT Miles Cresswell and Dylan Johnston put on their BERT issue high visibility clothing and swept the road making it safe for other road users.

10 February 2015: Bob Thomas and BEV member Bob Gregory attended a full days briefing at Wray Park, Reigate on issues associated with establishing an Emergency Assistance Centre training organized by SCC Surrey Local Resilience Forum.

12 February 2015: A date in the middle of March has been set for Bob Thomas and Bob Bartlett to meet Steve Owen-Hughes Assistant Chief Fire Officer SF&RS to explore areas of mutual support.

15 February 2015: In dry weather but with water in the ditches from overnight rain a BERT party worked through Sunday morning. Maintenance was undertaken on the main drainage system which flows from close to Moat Farm in Wheelers Lane, thorough Oakdene Road, past the pavilion until it joins Tanners Brook and on into the Mole. Work was also undertaken to clear the ditch to the rear of the doctor’s old surgery in Wheelers Lane. An attempt was made to survey the culvert by the church using the CCTV camera but the overnight water precluded this. The culvert by Weir Mead Farm under Wheelers Lane was rodded and cleared.

The main drainage team cleared from Dead Man’s Hole up to Middle Street whilst other team members worked the far side of the road to south of the allotments. The team had a bonfire of all of the vegetation they cleared last year. A tree trunk, which was across the brook by the Budd’s tractor bridge, was removed.

So all in all a productive morning

The trailer with tools and equipment was deployed

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The ditch by the old surgery before

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Simon Budd

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Clive Roberts

Toby Songhurst

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Gary Wood

Toby Songhurst

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A large amount of vegetation was removed and the water runs a great deal easier

Steve Thorpe and Bob Thomas with the technical bit!

Below are pictures from Bob Thomas, before an after the culvert was rodded by Weir Mead Farm in Wheelers Lane. It can be seen that the water begins to escape into the drainage ditch, which in time, enters the main drainage through to Tanners brook and the Mole.

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Steve Thorp in the pond at Weir Mead Farm

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The effort paid off The following work has been identified. It is a ditch in Wheelers Lane south of Oakdene on the west side on a field boundary. This work will be considered during the next working party day.

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18 February 2015: The lads have been out this Wednesday afternoon of half term and have burnt the vegetation from the past two working party's at the recreation ground; Budd’s field too Dead Man’s Hole. Tomorrow they intended to clear the rear of Leighs Farm to Brook House.

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19 February 2015: Four of the Young BERT collected and burnt more of the vegetation from the stream and ditches before the heavy rain came. Mid afternoon 9 of the Young BERT and a number of the adult team spent two hours at the Pavilion. Tim Agent a Fire-fighter who was born in the village and went to school here, gave a presentation on water safety including the use of lines and the need to avoid the diseases that are present in much flood and river water. It is not intended that BERT would come involved in rescues from the river, but Tim made it clear that working in fast flowing drainage ditches has its dangers. BERT management decided to purchase a number of YAK paddling lines to be deployed whenever people are working in water along with a “buddy� to ensure safety. Specialist disposable gloves will be worn under the rubber gloves and members were shown the correct way to take the gloves off and how to wash the rubber gloves.

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A mother kindly sent cakes, which were greatly appreciated – Freddy was ace at cutting the cake into portions

Simon Budd introducing Tim Agent. The grey boxes contain BERT equipment

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BERT member Unna is a nurse and a cave rescue member so is highly qualified in safety matters

23 February 2015: Bob Thomas, Bob Bartlett and Roger Hammond chairman of the parish council met with Kirsty Stubley of the Environment Agency to discuss the preparation of an emergency plan for the village. Any plan would be “owned� by the parish council and it is anticipated that BERT will pull together the first draft.

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April 3 2016 1 March 2015: It is anticipated that Young BERT will under supervision and with the agreement of the parish council, burn the vegetation removed from the drainage system in and around the Middle Street allotments.

6 March 2015: Mole Valley Youth Awards evening at the Dorking Halls where Councilor Potter nominated BERT for an award.

Young BERT were short listed for the team award at the ceremony in Dorking Halls to celebrate all that is good with young people who live in Mole Valley. YOUNG BERT WON THE TEAM AWARD. The High Sheriff, Deputy Lord Lieutenant, chairman of Surrey County Council and other civic leaders were present.

Freddie Carpenter Oliver Cawley Miles Cresswell Dylan Johnston –Donohue Toby Songhurst Lucas Woolley Toby Cobbold James Dickman Sebastian Fay Tom Mountney Ben Medhurst Photos from parents

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Young BERT are to help at the NUTS CHALLENGE assault course with car parking.

19 March 2015 Bob Thomas and Bob Bartlett attended a meeting with senior Fire and Rescue officers, including Steve Owen- Hughes the assistant chief to discuss working closely together in developing community prevention and response activities.

The idea at the moment is to use BERT as a model for other rural areas. A paper is being prepared for a meeting in April with SF&RS when training needs and kit development will be discussed.

22 March 2015 Simon Budd and four of Young BERT helped a householder at Strood Green where water was not draining away. The camera was deployed and it was found that a utility had cut through the drain with one of their pipes.

23 March 2015: Bob Thomas and Bob Bartlett attended a meeting of the Brockham Flood Forum where a range of issues were addressed. It has taken time but with the various agencies working together key infrastructure issues have been identified and the member from the Environment Agency will take them forward. It is hoped and anticipated in the not too distant future some finance will be allocated to the village for flood prevention works.

As a result of the meeting at the request of the Flood Forum a site in the village where a householder had filled in a ditch resulting in complaints, was visited and photographed. The photographs were sent to the chair of the Flood Forum.

A further task to BERT was to pursue the proposal made by the team to straighten the underground pipe by the church hall. The plan "New Pipe at Church /B" show where the original ditch ran with bends and a dog-leg many years ago - later replaced by a concrete pipe run buried along the original ditch line with just one pit (recently

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104 Robert Bartlett discovered) in the corner of the dog-leg. The discussions are around exposing the original ditch and removing the pipe or laying a new pipe in a straight line alongside the path that runs between the Church and the Church Hall from Wheelers Lane to the Green. If this work is undertaken it will prevent the considerable expenditure of the jetter vehicle and crew being deployed for four days in the difficult task of clearing an underground, congested pipe.

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5m 20 ft

© Mole Valley District Council. © Crown Copyright & Database Right 2015 Add Title here Scale: 1:350 Printed on: 24/3/2015 at 15:04 PM

Mole Valley District Council Pippbrook, Dorking Surrey, RH4 1SJ www.molevalley.gov.uk 01306 885 001 © MVDC © Crown Copyright & Database Right 100021846 2014

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April 3 2016 23 March 2015: The parish council have received a donation to BERT of £500 from the now defunct CAMEL action group. Their funds came from Brockham and Betchworth and they wanted to return their outstanding funds to a good cause. In addition £50 was received from Farnham Probus Club following a talk from Bob Bartlett.

26 March 2015: Fund raising quiz and Curry night at The Royal Oak on the Green.

The Royal Oak, Brockham Green was full to bursting on Thursday night for the first ever-fundraising event for BERT a curry and quiz evening which with auctions raised £2700. What a large sum of money! Marc Jones the licensee donated the food and the prizes along with an amazing auction prize of a dinner for eight including champagne and fine wines, to be transported in a limousine door to door. There was a great deal of competition and this kind offer raised £500. Other auction prizes included champagne, carpet and oven cleaning, and a week in a vintage camper van. Now that is different.

3 April 2015: A gathering of BERT young and a bit older will take place to update the kit inventory, clean tools and undertake maintenance. Quartermaster Simon Budd will lead. Recently Steve Thorpe undertook maintenance of the pumps, which are ready to go!

3 April 2015: Simon Budd and some of Young BERT will clear the culvert under Wheelers Lane by Weir Mead Farm where the recently excavated ditch has allowed water to flow off the hill but cannot get under the road.

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One side of the road and below the other showing a culvert blockage

The team is also to call on a partially sighted, 90 year old resident who has a water meter, need to take a reading but cannot find it.

3 April 2015: Bob Thomas, Bob Gregory (BEV) and Bob Bartlett met to discuss the organisation and implementation of a plan to use the church hall at Brockham as a rest centre and control point during a significant crisis. Bob G will be one of those to lead

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April 3 2016 if the centre is opened and two more “managers” are to be asked to volunteer. Bob T and Bob G attending a day’s training at the SF&RS HQ has helped this initiative.

4 April 2015: Young BERT had a great morning at the Nuts Challenge, Newdigate.

They helped car parking and in return were given some marksmanship training by exmembers of the Parachute Regiment. This is great activity for team building.

4April 2015: Saturday morning Simon Budd put the rods through the culvert under Wheelers Lane near Wellhouse Lane, Weir Mead Farm. As you can see below it is mainly clear except for about four inches of silt at the bottom. Bob Thomas has added to the jetting list. We also think part of the backing up problem on the Betchworth side is because the ditch has been dug slightly too deep.

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7 April 2015: Simon Budd updated the Parish Council on BERT at their monthly meeting 7 April 2015: Bob Bartlett gave a talk at Banstead Rotary on an unrelated subject but was given a donation of ÂŁ50 for BERT funds. An explanation on the origins of BERT was given to the meeting.

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112 Robert Bartlett 8 April 2015: From Adult Bert: Mick and I walked along the ditch at the back of the Middle Street allotments yesterday (on a digging break). It all looks OK from Oakdene Road to where we got to last time - the young BERT boys tried hand-sawing through both these trees but they proved too hard - once these are clear it should be possible to walk along the ditches all the way from Oakdene Road to Wheelers Lane.

12 April 2015 work was undertaken by adult and young BERT to clear the drainage ditch and make preparations to burn the wood taken some weeks ago from the drainage ditch.

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Paul Edwards with his much-cherished chain saw!

18 April 2015 Saturday: The Brockham Angling Club was faced with a large tree fallen into their pond on the Coach Road. Angling Club members and BERT stalwarts Bob Thomas and Steve Thorpe took advantage of BERT equipment to help. The BERT boat, the Grant Ashley and safety equipment were deployed to remove as much of the fallen tree as was practicable.

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27 April 2015 Bob Thomas and Bob Bartlett, at the request of the Parish Council met with WS Atkins engineers who are working on potential flood prevention schemes for Brockham.

27 April 2015: Bob Thomas and Bob Bartlett met a member of the Surrey County Council Resilience Team to discuss the role and potential of BERT for other communities.

30 April 2015: Bob Thomas gave a presentation on BERT covering the last year to the AGM of the Brockham Parish Council.

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8 May 2015: Photographs of the repair to the culvert outside Church Side, Wheelers Lane, by Surrey County Council, which had collapsed restricting the flow of water from the road. Reported to SCC Highways by BERT complete with video taken with BERT’s CCTV camera. The pipe is higher than expected but this allows for water to flow from the main drainage ditch onto the road as an overflow.

14 May 2015: A grant of £2000 was received from “Gatwick Airport Community Trust”, an independent charity helping local projects to get off the ground. The money will not be spent immediately as it is hoped as funds become available to purchase a more robust culvert/underground camera system or jetter with bowser.

23 May 2015: A grant of £2000 was received from the “Community Foundation for Surrey” and will be combined with the money from “Gatwick Airport Community Trust” to purchase a robust camera. The £4,000 kindly donated by these charities may not be enough to purchase a robust and suitable portable camera system but immediate action is underway to identify a supplier and to negotiate a price.

24 May 2015: The tree outside the Royal Oak was damaged by a lorry and a large and heavy branch was left hanging precariously and in such a way that it could easily be brought down on a child or young person who tried to swing on it. The BERT lads attended with Simon Budd and removed the branch and disposed of it. Additionally they removed a small branch, which was also seen as a potential threat. Normally MVDC would need to seek permission from MVDC to undertake the work but it was seen as an urgent need to remove a potential hazard.

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7 June 2015: Today young BERT led by Simon Budd, tidied up both ends of the Borough Bridge. Using a rotavator to turn the soil. Hopefully this will stimulate the 250.000 Poppy seeds planted last year to grow as a part of Brockham’s First World War commemorations.

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April 3 2016 11 June 2015: Robert Bartlett attended the Brockham Flood Forum. Some of the issues considered were: Brockham Flood Elevation Scheme: This is a joint project with SCC and WS Atkins involving the Environment Agency and others. A great deal of work has been undertaken by the Flood Forum and others to understand the water flows and drainage within the Brockham catchment. All this will generate a draft report with recommendation which should go public about Christmas, followed by an open meeting in the village soon after to consider the options. It is expected that WS Atkins will set a number of priorities.

Consenting for ditching: Householders and landowners should be aware that legislation requires landowners and householders to seek permission from the SCC for consent if there is an intention to pipe a ditch or fill in a water-carrying ditch. There are consequences for not notifying SCC and they could be expensive.

Flood Insurance: If residents have had difficulties over your household insurance the National Flood Forum may be able to help you. http://www.nationalfloodforum.org.uk/trouble-getting-insurance/ Weir Mead Farm Ponds: A report from BERT at the request of the chair of the Flood Forum has been submitted containing consideration for the maintenance of the ponds and the surrounding area to assist in the flow of water. It is considered that Surrey Wildlife Trust should be asked to become involved along of course with the landowner.

13 June 2015: Simon Budd the BERT Quartermaster was awarded a British Empire Medal for service to the community of Brockham in the Queen’s Birthday Honours June 2015.

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14 June 2015: BERT Young and a bit older along with some BEV volunteers and other villagers took part in a village wide litter pick which resulted in several black bin liners full of rubbish. Later that day the team assisted the Brockham Badgers clean up of the Big Field following the Badgers World Cup tournament.

14 June 2015: Simon Budd and members of Young BERT attended premises in Brockham where the basement had flooded. The water was pumped out using a recently donated pump and the cause of the blockage found and cleared.

18 June 2015: A ÂŁ32 donation following a guided tour of the village and briefing on BERT and the floods by Robert Bartlett for the Horsham U3A. 24/25 June 2015: Message to SCC Highways from Bob Thomas: Received a call to the GO BERT number from a resident in Middle Street, Strood Green. He is concerned that the works currently being done at Tweed Lane / Middle St Junction will not fix the whole problem and that we will need to re-enter after the new road surface is laid! He has been in conversation with the contractors on site.

The newly exposed PIT A has a pipe running north across Tyndale road AND TWO pipes at different levels running EAST across Middle Street. These two pipes have been exposed by the contractor and are being worked on (replacement / removal of concrete.

However - it can now be seen that some time ago the Gas board laid a new main by boring along Middle Street and pulling the flexi pipe in - this has cut through the pipes in PIT A to DITCH C and left a VOID 30x20 cm approximately above the gas main (presumably the length of Middle Street) which presumably is why there is a sag in the road all the way along the street with the surface cracked along its length.

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It is HIGHLY probable that the bore has cut the pipe from PIT B to DITCH C too but the contractor’s works does not cover this.

BERT mobilized the camera with Steve Thorpe and Bob Thomas as operators. Each pit (including the newly found one "North Pit" that had the abandoned bung in) at the junction of Middle St with Tweed Lane was inspected. The videos are not great due to the previous damage sustained - we hope to have a better camera very soon!

However BERT were relieved to report that the suspicion raised by the local resident is unfounded! There is only ONE pipe from each pit running EAST under Middle St. Both of these have been exposed by the contractor - this is shown by the videos uploaded to YouTube https://youtu.be/FbFzm5tActA "North / Pit A on the map - the newly found one" https://youtu.be/xGeRZqi7u9A "South / Pit B on the map" You can see that at the end of the video from each pit we can see the contractor’s excavator bucket.

There remains the concern over the void above the gas main that runs the length of Middle Street and has caused the sag along the road.

Steve Thorpe, having drawn the short straw, in the pit with Bob Thomas operating the camera ensuring that the excavation work at Tweed Lane - Middle St junction to fix the concrete filled drainage pipes, by previous utility works, are clear and will work as expected in future and reduce the risk of flooding in Middle St. Tweed Lane and Jubilee Terrace area.

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25 June 2015: The Royal Oak, Brockham, donated £163 the proceeds from the sale of barbeque food during a Jaguar Club car rally stopover at the pub the previous evening.

The Royal Oak has now donated almost £2,700.

4 July 2015: Simon Budd and Young BERT members assisted a local resident with pumping water into his fishing lake when the owner’s pump failed and the fish were threatened.

9 July 2015: BERT has been buoyed by the generous support of Scanprobe of Kenley (Caterham) who have provided a Max Probe Pipeline Inspection System. The equipment has a camera connected with a computer that allows for the inspection of culverts and drains with the ability to record what is going on in hidden places that may lead to flooding. This evidence can be used to fix the problem or be transmitted to Surrey County Highways. The camera was purchased with the generous support of Scanprobe, additional fundraising from an event at the Royal Oak, Brockham, the Community Foundation of Surrey and the Gatwick Airport Community Trust.

Clive Flegg Sales manager and Jon Barry the MD of Scanprobe with BERT chairman Bob Thomas The chairman of BERT Bob Thomas said, “BERT are delighted by the support of Scanprobe who along with the financial support of Brockham people and the two charities have allowed us to purchase this remarkable piece of equipment, which will enhance the effectiveness of the Team. It is anticipated that BERT will soon start progressive surveys and maintenance of the key culverts and drains within the Brockham community.” BERT is also purchasing a jetting device and water container to allow for clearing blocked or congested culverts and have plans once funds are raised for a further bit of kit that will unblock culverts and drains where the jetter fails.

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April 3 2016 We will train a number of people to operate the equipment and would welcome volunteers. This is “slow time� activity and will be pre-planned starting probably during August. The machine will be delivered once the cheque is sent from the parish Council who holds BER funds independently of their own but provide an oversight of expenditure.

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122 Robert Bartlett 11 July 2015: BERT had a pitch at the Village Weekend on Brockham Green so that as many people as possible could be made aware of BERT and where their contributions had been spent.

Bob Thomas and Steve Thorpe preparing the BERT equipment trailer

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Some Young BERT helping with the equipment

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Bob Thomas and Colin Truran manning the stand

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BERT lads

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Steve Thorpe packing up

13 July 2015: The Royal Oak donated ÂŁ300.40p the proceeds of voluntary donations for burgers and sausages from a barbecue held on Sunday during the village weekend.

The picture below is of Mel from the Royal Oak making a presentation to BERT Chairman Bob Thomas at the Silver Saver lunch on Monday 13 July.

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14 July 2015: Despite several emails to the Post Office warning of a rotted post holding up their postbox in Wheelers Lane, they have done nothing other than repainting the postbox! So BERT took the initiative and have purchased and installed a pair of supporting stakes to avoid the risk of the postbox falling and injuring someone.

1 August 2015: A village resident donated ÂŁ250 to BERT equipment fund.

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2 August 2015: Would you be kind enough to pass on my grateful thanks to so many kind people who sprang into action with offers of assistance. Arriving home in the dark to find my three aged Koi floundering in a few inches of water was dreadful.

Immediately following your circulation of my plea for help I received offers of pond space, advice, details of where to get chemicals. Simon Budd and BERT even organised wheelie bins for water storage and treatment. I am delighted to report that all three fish have survived the experience and things are looking promising.

Thank you Bob for running the email system; what a tremendous community we have!

24 August 2015: Following a period of prolonged heavy rain BERT was called to Nutwood Avenue where a number of houses were threatened. Colin Truran responded immediately, Bob Thomas and three of YOUNG BERT worked successfully with householders to clear blockages in drainage systems. (Young BERT was delighted to get the call being bored on a wet school holiday!) Bert left two electric pumps at vulnerable houses. There are issues in a number of houses in the avenue with foul water and a resident is contacting Thames Water.

Colin Truran then drove around the village checking out known trouble spots and was able to report surface water but no issues. “I had a look at the water forming outside the recreation ground and it is due to the drains being taped over. This will not be a problem after the road works have finished of course.” Note: Bob Bartlett spoke with contractors the following morning and was assured the tape would be removed.

The BERT telephone number 01302 GO BERT was used by one of the householders on at least two occasions and it worked!

Roger Hammond Chairman Brockham Parish Council: “Well done to the BERT team. Once again it shows the value of having such an organisation in the village that can respond immediately that its expertise is needed. BUT.... please let`s use it and not abuse it.”

From Bob Thomas BERT: Colin ran a 3" pump at Nutwood Close taking the water to a road gully further up the close. This removed a good depth of standing water (up to Wendy’s door threshold) very quickly. Road gully at end of close eventually seemed to clear and water in road drained away Primary cause in Nutwood Close and Avenue would seem to be blocked road gullies - the Close has a fir tree that sheds / is trimmed and debris naturally ends through small showers in the gully - eventually builds into a large bung - leaving it only capable of handling small amounts of rain. Similar at the end of Nutwood Avenue road gully blocked with general dirt and debris - overflow goes through driveways and builds at the front doors & goes thro air bricks/vents.

The gully was rodded and water seems to be flowing better.

A pump left with Wendy in Nutwood Close and at 32 Nutwood Avenue for them to deploy on behalf of neighbours if anything threatens tonight.

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A good soaking in Nutwood Avenue During the evening BERT, Bob Thomas, Simon Bud, Colin Truran, and Young BERT Ollie, Dylan and Lucas had several more deployments: Back to Nutwood Close where a new house was threatened by surface water and so Colin collected sandbags from the MVDC yard in Curtis Road. The sandbags and rodding of drains cleared the surface water.

Brockham Lane where surface water had flooded a garage and the householder was concerned water might get into her house. An electric pump was deployed which proved to be immediately effective. This was caused by a blocked drain.

A check was made of a house in Middle Street, which was unoccupied with the householder on holiday. He contacted BERT as he was concerned as he had been badly flooded in the Christmas 2013 flood. Bob Thomas visited the house and all was OK. The householder was contacted with the update.

Bob Thomas also checked two vulnerable houses in Wheelers Lane where the householders were at work. These were found to be OK. The team worked from about 1500-2100 and successfully met the challenges. It has to be remembered that an immediate response cannot be guaranteed but every effort will be made to support Brockham residents. To that end, using a significant donation from a local resident, five more electric pumps with flat house and a drain unblocking tool have been purchased and will be delivered later this week. Experience has shown that these small electric pumps are very useful and can make an immediate difference provided there is somewhere to pump the water!

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Five more of these pumps have been purchased with a donation from a local resident

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Nutwood Avenue resident – a BERT volunteer who set up a IFD – Improvised Flood Defence on a neighbour’s house. Note the cleaned out drain!

Brockham Lane resident: Just to reiterate how brilliant BERT were last night; they were there in minutes. Luckily they left me a pump which I may well come home tonight to do a repeat performance, Dyno rod due tomorrow. Again thank you

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132 Robert Bartlett 29 August 2015: From Ann and Mick Went BERT volunteers unable to make the next working party 5 September undertook to clear a part of the main drainage system to give the work crews a good start.

Ann reported “Mick and I spent a couple of hours in the ditch behind the allotments this morning. The length of some of the brambles was amazing. We started where the clearing ended last year - where the main ditch turns right towards Middle Street behind the maize field and a smaller ditch heads towards Wellhouse Lane. The main ditch looks fairly clear but the smaller ditch is full of nettles and looks like it needs digging out.�

Ann and Mick worked towards Oakdene Road clearing as we went - typical before:

And after

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They reported that as they got near the houses in Oakdene Road just behind the chicken run on the allotments, we were defeated

31 August 2015: A ÂŁ50 donation was received from customers at the Royal Oak 1 September 2015: Bert member Paul Edwards and Young BERT team leader Miles Cresswell worked the main drainage ditch from Middle Street through to wire barrier at the rear of the recreation ground towards Old School Lane. They cleared a number of obstructions 133

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Before and after clearing the ditch. This is a point where debris is known to gather and stop the free flow of water.

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Job well done by Miles and Paul

Culvert blocking sized debris

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136 Robert Bartlett 2 September 2015: Bob Bartlett gave a talk to the Wednesday Club in Brockham who then made a donation of £50 to BERT 5 September 2015: A working party of adult and Young BERT undertook preventative work by completing the work started by Mr and Mrs Went on the main drainage channel through the village from the allotments off Middle Street, through Oakdene Road, to the Pavilion and then the Dead Man’s Hole ate the rear of the cottages in Old School Lane.

The new camera was deployed for the first time checking the underground drainage pipes from Wheelers Lane across The Green towards The Grumpy Mole. It was easy to see why obstructions are caused as over the generations a combination of pipe sizes have been fitted leading to ridges where debris gathers. The pipes were not badly obstructed but in time a jetter will be used to blast through potential trouble spots. The underground activity was recorded on the new camera and the relevant pictures will be placed on You Tube for the SCC Highways to view.

A second site was the flow down from the Wheelers Lane Allotments alongside Four Ways House. This is accessible from where it goes underground and through a manhole. BERT have manhole lifting tools and they are proving very useful.

A successful morning

Another three volunteers arrived after this photo was taken

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142 Robert Bartlett 9 September 2015: Christ Church Brockham volunteers hosted Teas on the Green on Sunday 6 September and from the money they raised very kindly donated ÂŁ100 to BERT funds.

BERT Flood Prevention Working Party Saturday 12 September The aim of the session was to check previous known areas of concern to ensure there were no obstructions.

Six more volunteers arrived a little later

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Checking past choke points in Tweed Lane

With the aid of a local resident a number of critical manholes were lifted and there did not appear to be any blockages. Checks were also made in Jubilee Terrace where one manhole was completely buried in leaf mould and was dug out by two of the team with trowels on their hand and knees. It was cleared.

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Middle Street Strood Green where for many months the plastic road sign has laid in the ditch. Using the camera under the road a blockage was discovered and dug out ensuring free flow. There is concern that running alongside the ditch is a major power cable that is not adequately protected. There is a further pipe across the entrance of the ditch which does not help flow.

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A number of drains were lifted and checked, including with the camera and there did not appear to be any blockages.

How many BERT volunteers does it take to lift a manhole cover and peer in?

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One of the routes for water off the hill to the east of Wheelers Lane is to flow through ditches in Blind Lane. The residents had the ditches dug out during the year and a check was made to ensure they were free flowing. The underground culverts were rodded. The water from this point travels the length of Wheelers Lane. The ditch on the footpath to the south of Old Cottage has a spur under Blind Lane to join the drainage ditch by Noyes End. This was checked and rodded. There is also a culvert under the road from the Noyes End ditch under the road to just south of the footpath alongside Moat House Farm. This was rodded.

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Tom using two sets of rods to check from the footpath under Blind Lane

This is outside the hairdressers on the Green. The parish council asked for a drain and gulley to be checked with the camera. There is a blockage, which will be reported to Highways under the verge. The gulley where water should drain off he road was ineffective due to the rubbish blockage and because the road menders tarmac was congesting the entrance.

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This is the essential gulley to take rainwater off the road into the drains. Many have been completely blocked by the new road workmen. SCC have said that in the next 148

April 3 2016 two weeks all the gulleys will be freed and the drains full of tarmac and other road detritus will be returned to how they should be.

The Team with one of the manholes lifted with the volume of sludge removed

The broken pipe will need the attention of the statutory authorities. In addition a drain when lifted was clogged with tarmac. That was removed but another, part filled with dumped concrete will need expert attention. This will be reported to Highways.

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Nutwood Avenue – severely congested drain

These are images of a concrete filled drain gully in Nutwood Avenue where solid concrete fills the sump so all the debris flows straight into the main drain where it can 150

April 3 2016 cause all sorts of major problems for the whole of Nutwood Avenue.

BERT inspected with the camera the whole system (lower end of Nutwood Avenue) and used rods to clear any signs of small blockages, which can eventually build to become a barrier.

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James and Freddie use special shovels to clear a wheelbarrow full of detritus from a drain in Nutwood Avenue

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Nutwood Avenue before and after cleaning by the team

The outflow of the surface water system in Nutwood, which BERT worked on outflow is in the field drain to the east of the road the Hamilton estate who have done sterling work in clearing the ditch and opening it right up. This ditch is linked to the Mole flowing under the footbridge on the Coffin Path.

BERT believes that the outflow needs protection in order to keep it from blocking up through foliage/growth etc., around the outlet. It is considered either a cage/ironwork 153

154 Robert Bartlett or perhaps initially simply regular inspection and maintenance/clearing would be sufficient. This will be reported to the Brockham Flood Forum.

Ditch on the Hamilton estate to the east of Nutwood Avenue recently dug and it is hoped will reduce the threat of flooding in Nutwood Avenue.

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Just checking!

16 September 2015: Following a period of heavy rain Colin Truran of BERT drove around the local potential flood trouble spots and all was running well. There were issues in Nutwood Avenue in an area where BERT had left two pumps. A resident later reported that she had checked the two road drains that were not draining last time at 5.45pm and both were working much better since the work last weekend. There was again much detritus in the one in Nutwood Close blocking the drain. It's from a large conifer in a council run property.

Bob Thomas reported a tree down on Snowerhill, which was a potential danger to Traffic. Highways were informed.

Paul Edwards of BERT reported during the evening that he had been for a walk around the fields alongside the main drainage ditch at the rear of the pavilion. He came across a massive log by the cattle fence in the Budd’s field on the south side by Old School Lane. It was not doing any harm so will be removed one evening soon.

Tanners Brook was running high and about 1m off some of the gardens on old school lane. The water was running fast through the system.

20 September 2015: Simon Budd and a group of Young BERT at the request of the parish council cut the overhanging willow trees as high as they could reach on the footbridge next to Borough Bridge. They also strimmed the area known as the Borough Bridge triangle, Old School Lane, and the high footpath in Old School Lane, called The Clapper's using the Parish Council strimmer.

On the allotment's in Wheelers Lane BERT put in place a latching post for the new wooden gate and supplied and fixed a small chain.

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156 Robert Bartlett 17 October 2015: The following report was sent to local councilors and the SCC Highway Authority from Bob Thomas who undertook the work with Colin Truran using the camera: Last month during the planned "pinch point" investigations, BERT identified a block in the pipe that runs from the ditch east of Middle St under the road toward the site of the Old Spotted Cow. The block was near the ditch end. This was reported with some other issues around the village.

Recently "work" was undertaken by contractors on this problem at Strood Green after which local district councilor John Muggeridge flagged up concern that the work was inadequate, and asked BERT to deploy the camera to undertake a survey of the work so far completed.

Bob Thomas was disappointed to report that a. The pipe remains as blocked as it was prior to the works and b. That the works undertaken are (in my view) unlikely to withstand much moderate (by Brockham standards) rainfall and water flowing as it does along this stretch.

It would appear that the contractor has: 1. Dug out the collapsed ditch bank around the pipe (that goes under the road) 2. Ignored that the pipe is blocked for perhaps a metre run FULL of debris 3. Loose laid a couple of poly sandbags around the pipe entrance 4. Built up the dug out ditch banks with hogging/ type 2 hardcore and given that a "bit of a pat" to shape it.

It can already be seen that the hogging is falling back into the ditch (and will block the -anyway still blocked- pipe!) and without doubt, the first heavy rains will wash the loose material into the ditch or down the road to cause further issue. It should also be noted that the loss of this material will increase the danger of road traffic ending up catching the edge of the ditch.

No doubt, there will be an inspection of these poor works at some stage but BERT urge a prompt survey and would further suggest that:1. The ditch be dug back to the road edge 2. The last meter of so of pipe be cleared/ replaced (the camera action suggests it is damaged near the edge of the road) 3. Firm material is used to build up the ditch edge (sand/concrete mix bags) 4. Matting / sheeting used to bind any soil/ hogging in place (and allow grasses etc., to grow on.

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This is the view under the road. The view is not clear because the drainage pipe is blocked and no light coming in from the far end!

26 October 2015: Of duty local member of the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service Tim Agent, undertook a training session for some of the Young BERT team on Monday afternoon of half term. It is never intended that the team will be used on the Mole or in Tanner’s Brook but briefing on safety management close to flood water is a sensible precaution given that there were rescues during the last flood. The BERT team have invested public donations in specialist throwing lines, life preservers and carabiner clips along with climbing rope to secure any team member close to running water. Tim Agent as a part of his duties is skilled at line rescue.

In addition to training by the river the lads undertook CPR training and used a training defibrillator. The training “room” was the bonfire base at Vicarage cottage kindly loaned by Kate Harman and where Doreen Bates provided drinks, biscuits and cakes.

A worthwhile exercise which will be repeated in December or early in the 2016.

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Tim Agent with Simon Budd teach knots for securing to the carabiner clips.

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Yak throw lines

Doreen providing a large tea!

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Tim talks of CPR and the use of a defibrillator 19 October 2015 1. Introduction a. The Brockham Emergency Response Team has for some months been working with Potentem (http://www.potentem.co.uk/) to develop two related but distinct product lines to prevent rural crime and to warn of impending floods. b. Funding for the project is coming from three sources: i. BERT funds donated for flood prevention ii. Community Safety Fund from the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for rural crime prevention iii. Community Foundation for Surrey for flood prevention. iv. It is has been agreed that the crime commissioner’s office will donate the asked for £1,000 and £2,000 donation from the Community Foundation. BERT funds can be directed at flood prevention and about £1,000 could be made available.

2. The System a. Potentem are a Surrey based company who approached BERT and offered to work with volunteers to develop both crime prevention and flood detection devices. b. As BERT is funded mostly by local people to work on flood prevention and responding to severe weather events it was considered that additional funding for the project needed to be sourced. c. This is a developmental project so the outcome is not guaranteed although in its very early stages it has been shown to work. d. The system requires a fixed antenna, which has been erected on the roof of the Royal Oak public house on Brockham Green in the heart of the village, plus a ‘gateway’ that connects to the Internet. This equipment cost £390 and surveys by Potentem have indicated wide coverage of the parish including all of Strood Green. e. The infrastructure costs will be divided equally between the crime prevention and flood prevention project.

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April 3 2016 f. Put simply the crime prevention devices are activated by movement. A device was fitted to the BERT equipment trailer and other types of devices are available to fit for example, on a diesel tank on a farm or as passive infrared inside a house or on a shed. The options and ideas are numerous. g. On activation a number of text messages are sent to nominated people and emails follow. h. The floodwater monitoring devices are designed to again send text and email messages, if water rises to a set level. It is anticipated that the water measuring devices can be used close to the Mole, Tanners Brook and in basements where floods have happened in the past. One of the consequences of being flooded is for many to make them very nervous during periods of heavy rain and it is anticipated that the devices will offer great reassurance.

22 October 2015: The first flood-monitoring device fitted on the Mole close to premises

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November 2015: Following receiving the following photographs taken in Tynedale Road, Strood Green, BERT contacted SCC Highways who are undertaking a survey to try and ascertain what is causing the flood. The first thoughts were that the system is now so effective more water than normal is passing through the system so over capacity caused this minor flood.

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29 November 2015: A working party was formed on Sunday morning and work undertaken in Wheelers Lane and at Strood Green. Members were aged from 14 -70 years of age. The work included the junction of Oakdene Road and Wheelers Lane where a local resident advised that the standing water was not a blockage but the water was trying to flow uphill. In Wheelers Lane the ditch was cleared of leaves and hedge trimmings from Warrenne Road to the church including around the back of the Old Surgery now Star Builders. This is a continuing problem where housing association contractors cut the hedges and allow the cuttings to drop into the ditch. The important drains in the church layby were cleared as was the ditch in front of the church hall. This has become difficult to access because of the metal fence but members of the team managed to get into the ditch and by cutting back some of the overhanging hedging were able to clear the leaves that were causing a blockage. Ann and Mick Went, with Zoe Collins, Clive Roberts, Simon Budd and David Shanks worked in Wheelers Lane along with Miles Cresswell and his team of Young BERT. At Strood Green the ditch to the rear of Boxhill Close was cleared and when left the water was flowing freely. Areas that were scheduled for work could not be visited as the owners of the land Charles Church have become difficult over access. This matter will be raised at the Flood Forum in December. The main culvert under Brockham Lane opposite Brockham View (Spotted Cow site) previously visited and reported to SCC is totally blocked by a collapse. This team led by Colin Truran and helped by Ben Weijers, Roger Roberts, Bob Gregory and Paul Edwards.

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Zoe Collins making a start

Clive Roberts breaking the dam

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Miles Cresswell who passed his driving test the day before

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A Job well done

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Behind the surgery now cleared including tins and bottles

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Clive Roberts cleaning the blocked drain in the church layby

Assisted by Young BERT

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Simon Budd who received his British Empire medal for community service from the Lord Lieutenant

Cleaning a main drain in the church layby

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Young BERT in the ditch by the church hall – very difficult to access. Helped by Zoe Collins and Clive Roberts

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Congested ditch at Strood Green

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Strood Green – hard work to follow!

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Bob Gregory and Ben Weijers

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Bob Gregory

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Job well done

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3 December 2015: BERT has been in contact with SCC Highways to ensure work is undertaken in the culvert in Middle Street surveyed by the Team and found to have collapsed putting cottages at risk.

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Middle Street Strood Green indicating the collapsed gulley 3 December 2015: A member of the BERT Team accompanied Potentem to decide on the location on Tanner’s Brook and the main drainage channel through Oakdene Road for the experimental flood-warning device. Householders were in full support and it is anticipated that the devices will be fitted within ten days. It is hoped that the devices will give the householders a peace of mind during heavy rain.

The devices were later fitted. Steps are being taken to identify neighbours to the devices who would like to be informed if the alarm is raised. This remains an experiment but there has been interest in the project from across Sussex,

BERT Operation Sunday 27 December 2015 Tyndale Road/Middle Street Robert Bartlett 27 December 2015 On Sunday 27 December 2015 three members of the BERT Team, Bob Thomas, Steve Thorpe and Robert Bartlett responded to a request for help to try and discover the cause of flooding from a drain at the junction of Tyndale Road and Middle Street, Strood Green. It had been raining overnight but not heavily although there was water in the system.

The problem is in the drainage system that flows from Jubilee Terrace to Tyndale Road under the pavement, on to Brockham Row where the water is supposed to go under the road and into a main drainage ditch. The pipe from Brockham Row has collapsed and

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180 Robert Bartlett the SCC and the Brockham Flood Forum are aware as BERT have some time ago sent video from their camera to the Authority.

SCC visited the Tyndale Road/Middle Street two weeks before Christmas and tried to jet the system to clear any obstruction. They were unsuccessful The following show the consequences of the blocked drain and this is with not unusual levels of rainfall:

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The drain from Jubillee Terrace passes under this cover but obviously cannot escape through its normal journey to Brockham Row and then into the drainage ditch. There is a blockage under the road by Brockham Row and the BERT work today found with the camera and rodding a blockage 18.5 metres south from the Brockham Row drain cover featured below. This is a second identified blockage on the system from the phone box to the culvert under the road.

The overflowing drain cover has some water released through a BT pit and out onto the road. This then moves west into Tyndale Road and into a drain from where it is believed to go into a ditch behind the houses that were once neighbours of the Spotted Cow now Brockham Row.

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This is the “overflow drain� into which the water from the blocked drain flows. Taken today when not too much water about.

First the camera was inserted which came up against a blockage under water some 12 metres south of the drain cover. This was then rodded and the camera reinserted and travelled to 18-5 metres.

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This is where the blockage is. It should be noted that there is a drain cover on the left of the picture, some tarmac was laid on top of older surface and there is another drain out of the picture on the right.

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This photograph shows the drain in the road opposite where the blockage is.

An attempt was made to open the culvert under the road without success.

Conclusion: The water flows freely from Jubilee Terrace to the area 18.5 metres to the south of the drain cover in Brockham Row. The water backs up and comes through the drain cover and vent on the grass-covered triangle opposite Strood Green Stores. This water flows into Tyndale Road by Strood Green stores and eventually drains into a culvert that passes under the triangle and is believed to go into a drainage ditch behind houses to the south of Tyndale Road close to Brockham Row. If SCC does not take action there is a significant threat of surface water flooding in this area which would be a repetition of the flood in 2013 when premises and gardens in that area were flooded.

BERT Task Wheelers Lane, Brockham, by the church Fit a grill in the drainage ditch

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April 3 2016 Robert Bartlett 31 December 2015 On Thursday 31 December 2015 a small team from BERT, Bob Thomas, Roger Roberts, Daved (sic) Shanks, Trevor Hizzard and Bob Bartlett deployed to install a grille in the main Wheelers Lane ditch where it goes underground.

Some years ago the open ditch around the church hall was piped and filled in. However, the pipe was laid in the existing ditch and the opportunity was not taken to make it straight. The new pipe therefore turns right, then left, the left then right again and at each of these turns, vegetation and litter gathers and causes congestion. Earlier in the year the SCC deployed a major jetter and it took four days at over a ÂŁ1,000 a day to clear the rubbish.

This is a classic example of litter being washed into the system even though BERT members pick the litter out of the ditches whenever possible and practicable. The offenders are both the young, school children’s crisp and sweet wrappers that do not degrade. These come mostly from youngsters off the school bus, buy their sweets and drinks in the village shop and cast the empties into the ditch. It seems an impossible task to stop this, as it is to get the beer and soft drinks consumers not to throw their empties in the ditches. Just drop them so they can easily be retrieved if you cannot take them home. There was once a bin by Dodds Park but that was vandalised and removed.

There are bins on the Green by the seats but the litter is poked under the benches and not in the bins! Whinge over!

Litter is the major reason for fitting the new grill which is a design recommended by the Department of the Environment. It has been found that a grill on the slant will push litter up from where it can be retrieved.

The grill was paid for out of BERT funds but it is hoped that some of the cost can be recovered from the SCC.

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31 December 2015: BERT was out working in the village on the 31 December 2015 and found the drains pictured below both heavily congested with soil and leaves. We emptied them and SCC Highways have been informed to update their records that they were heavily congested. Location is in Wheelers Lane Brockham RH37LE outside Glebe Cottage and in the entrance to the school car park just a few yards apart.

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2 January 2016: BERT received a number of messages from residents at Strood Green concerned about a manhole cover being lifted by water unable to get through the blocked pipes. A request was made for sandbags. Earlier in the day BERT contacted SCC Highways emergency and they deployed a team to the scene where BERT member Colin Truran met them. This is an identified issue where BERT has previously identified two blockages by using their camera. SCC and the Flood Forum were made aware. Today the SCC team made the area safe around the raised manhole and Conway contractors with a gulley sucker have been deployed to see if they can reduce the water flow. Strood Green Stores sought sand bags, as there was concern for the shop and neighbouring houses.

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2 January 2015: Bob Thomas: 2200: Conway contractors have just left site. It appears they have cleared the block BERT found with the camera the other week running north between Strood Green telephone box and front of the Old Spotted Cow pub site Brockham Row - water is flowing and the drain cover at the telephone box is now under considerably less pressure (but I have left the pedestrian warnings and barriers in place.)

Tynedale Road water level is much reduced and has receded considerably away from the layby to the Strood Green Shop. The unit also cleared the gully between road & Bus Stop Shelter - water now flowing from road down that gully instead of travelling further north up road! Oakdene Road culvert is flowing freely. (This is the main drainage ditch through the village) Tanners Brook: Warnings have been received for residents close to Tanners Brook to remove animals from fields. Local residents report fast flowing but not flooding.

Will be checked in the morning.

Flood Alert for South East: The EA advise a general alert for the south east with no specific alert for the Mole as yet. If the Mole has a specific flood alert in place BERT will implement the first phase of the flood plan

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Latest Information from MVDC Emergency Planner: A total of 12 mm of rain has fallen over the Middle Mole catchment in the last 24hours on already saturated ground.

This has caused river levels to rise throughout the day and is expected to continue to rise throughout the night. Flooding of fields, low lying land and land close to watercourses is expected from the early hours of Sunday morning and throughout the day. A further period of heavy rainfall on Sunday is forecast from 07:00hours until 17:00hours. Flooding of property is not expected at this time. We will continue to monitor river levels and update this message as the situation changes. 20:48 on 02 Jan 2016 3 January 2016: River Mole is rising though no difficulties reported in the village by 0930. However as they day went on reports came in of significant difficulties at Strood Green at Tynedale Road/Middle Street where the blocked culverts were causing water to spread threatening a number of houses and Strood Green Stores, victims of the 2013 Christmas Flood. Bert was mobilised and were joined by farmer and district councillor John Muggeridge. A call went out on the email system for volunteers to collect sandbags from MVDC Dorking and four vehicles were despatched and a significant quantity of bags were brought to Strood Green. Many hours were spent with BERT pumps and John Muggeridge’s farm vehicle who were joined at 1600 by the SCC contactor Conways who also joined in the pumping.

As the evening progressed checks were made of vulnerable points and some ditches had their grills cleared to increase flows. Overnight the Brockham-I flood alerts sounded and were responded to by householder, team member and Brockham Bowls Club. The alarms set off at both stages of the alert and allowed action to be taken.

4 January 2016: Members of BERT were out and about at night and gave early warning that Betchworth Bridge and Old School Lane Bridge were closed, as was Wonham Lane, Betchworth. As importantly for those seeking an alternative north south route it was reported that Brockham Bridge had not flooded but it was a close run thing!

As the morning of the 4 January progressed the water as expected began to go down and it became unlikely that Brockham Bridge would flood. However as a contingency BERT advisory signs were put at strategic locations in case it was necessary to advise motorist of a flooded bridge. Brockham Bonfire provided a number of cones to support the signs.

The BERT team in particular and members of the community pulled together with SCC and MVDC to ensure that no premises were flooded and early warning was given of closures. What will the week bring?

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Tyndale Road, Strood Green

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Bob Thomas, Grant Ashley and Steve Thorpe

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Volunteer deliverers of sandbags from Dorking

John Muggeridge spraying a lot sweeter than normal!

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John Muggeridge

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Conways the SCC contractors arrived and were a little nonplussed by all the activity

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The BERT trailer deployed with pumps a range of tools and protective equipment

Poland Foot Bridge on 4 January

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Brockham Bridge 1000 on 4 January

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4th January 1000 the River Mole by Brockham Bridge

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Old School Lane about 1000 on 4 January – water receding quickly

10 January 2016: The householder sought assistance as the water was collecting outside her house and would not disperse. It was a problem particularly for the elderly and school children as the grass was very slippery.

Bob Bartlett called Colin Truran of BERT and he was there within ten minutes. A concrete slap was found and removed and revealed a soak away full of soil and sweet/crisp papers. This rubbish had stopped the water flowing under the drive to a drain by the road and on into the system leading to the build up of soil. After clearing the debris from the soak away the water flowed and dispersed.

The grill was obviously about a third of the original drain cover. It had broken and two thirds removed. The remaining third as shown was allowed to drop into the soak away and aggravated the problem.

This mixture of litter and unthinking workmen is the cause of most of the difficulties we all called to resolve.

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12 January 2016: After an appeal to the village enough funds were raised to purchase two new pumps and ancillary equipment.

12 January 2016: reports received of water pooling near Poland Bridge making it difficult for children to get to school. Believed to be caused by a congested dith behind the houses alongside the Grumpy Mole.

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A second report of pooling water off Middle Street about 50 yards south of the chemist by the rear access to Leigh’s Farm. This is thought to be caused by a blocked drain.

17 January 2016: Spring Cottage: Bob Thomas and Steve Thorpe attended Spring Cottage in Wheelers Lane as promised to undertake a camera survey. Unfortunately there was too much water under the road. Some clearing of the ditch outside the cottage was undertaken with a large plastic carrier bag removed from just inside the culvert.

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This is the new build alongside Spring Cottage with a significant amount of water joining the drainage ditch alongside Wheelers Lane.

17 January 2016: Middle Street: Once a large piece of polythene removed the camera was put in and found a coalscuttle jammed in the pipe. More equipment required for the debris to be removed as it is someway in. We will return

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17 January 2016: Middle Street: BERT was responding to a request to put the camera into the drain just to the north of here and found a large piece of polythene. The camera then was put into the culvert and found a coalscuttle! We will return to deal with that.

The people in the first house have suffered from water entering their property, as it is believed did the next-door neighbours.

On the 24 January members of the team returned and cleared a sheet of hardboard that had been used as a template for making of a circular pipe under the drive to the house.

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220 Robert Bartlett Over time the hardboard had rotted and collapsed into the ditch causing a blockage that looked very much like a coalscuttle. It was a difficult task and not perfect but the water will flow much easier reducing he threat of flooding to the houses.

Simon Budd: Later that day the blockage under the concrete driveways was removed.

The cause was the original hardboard form of the tunnel, which had partly rotted, then collapsed. With much difficultly the remaining hardboard was removed with an improvised grappling hook. It was achieved with the assistance of Mason our newest recruit to young BERT

Bob Thomas with Steve Thorpe in the ditch with the rubbish that came from the blockage. It was considered to send a small child into the culvert but it was felt charges of manslaughter might follow!

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Sometimes there is only one way to clear a culvert Simon Budd in Middle Street on Sunday 24th

17 January 2016: The water seems to flow from Wellhouse Lane to a bridge at the entry to the field - the one mainly used by dog walkers. The water does not get through the brick and concrete structure so the water floods into the field and comes into the property from the rear. BERT is pursuing the matter through the owner of the field who has asked for estimates to upgrade the culvert’s capability.

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Water flows from the ditch into the field and then to the left and comes into properties from the rear

There is plenty of water in the ditch

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The water does not seem able to pass this structure

The other side of the structure is dry

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Sunday 24 January a briefing was held at the cricket pavilion to show BERT/BEV members the equipment that the team have recently purchased with local donations.

There was also a briefing on BERT-I flood monitoring and rural crime prevention devices. There was a good turn out for the session where Doreen Bates and her sister Christine provided a range of hot drinks cakes, biscuits and sausage roll.

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Bob Thomas explains the workings of this high-end camera

Budding camera operators

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Steve Thorpe showing the new pumps bought by public donation early in th emonth

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Back to Strood Green but still too much water in the system to take pictures with the camera.

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This photograph was taken inside the BT manhole next to where the water spouts out by the phone box. The water flows into this area and seeps out into the road.

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The sandbags at Strood Green are tidily stacked ready to be deployed if there is again heavy rain before SCC Highways come this week to investigate the blockages. It is thought by BERT that the problem is caused by utilities driving through the culverts when Brockham Row was built.

Simon Budd took the opportunity to advertise his latest venture a celebration of the Queen’s 90th birthday on Sunday 22 May, which will involve several village organisations.

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April 3 2016 7 February 2016: Simon Budd and a team of Young BERT dug out a drain that was causing flooding and closing a footpath at the entrance to Leigh’s farm, Middle Street.

A wheelbarrow full of mud was removed.

A flagpole close to Leigh’s farm was taken down and the Union Flag replaced in preparation for the royal visit to the village.

A number of radios have been bought to help co-ordinate BERT deployments. Young BERT team Leader Miles Cresswell is organising their purchase, receiving the delivery, charging and testing the equipment before the team deployment for the royal visit.

14 February 2016: Simon Budd and Young BERT gathered the equipment needed for the royal visit and checked everything was in good order ready to deploy early on the 16th 15 February 2016: BERT member and volunteer grounds man for Brockham church David Shanks sought BERT assistance to remove the remains of a tree from the churchyard. This was undertaken today, which is half term week.

16 February 2016 Tuesday: Anne, Princess Royal, KG, KT, GCVO, GCStJ, QSO, GCL, CD is to visit Broc’s Chocs on Brockham Green between 1245 -1345.

BERT were asked by the Lord Lieutenant’s office to: a. Manage the safety of the public who view the visit from the Green b. Allow the Princess to see and be seen c. Advise and assist guests with parking in Brockham School car parks d. Establish a no parking area the length of Brockham Green About 12 Young BERT were deployed with a similar number of BERT with BEV volunteers supervised by Doreen Bates providing catering for the team in the church 233

234 Robert Bartlett hall. Lady Louise O’Connor DL attended the briefing and thanked all the volunteers for their help.

BERT member Zoe preparing for the visit

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BERT member Grant Ashley with other members of the team stewarding the crowds outside the venue Janice Russell photo

A good crowd gathered including 90-year-old Doris Bookham second on the right Janice Russell photo

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Janice Russell photo

Janice Russell photo

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April 3 2016 18 February 2016: Young BERT with Simon Budd emptied most of the sand bags from the defences at Strood Green. The sand was recycled for use on a local farm and the bags removed by MVDC. A stock of bags has been placed securely at Strood Green.

20 February 2016: A number of hand held BERT has purchased VHF radios.

Communications become an issue during the recent Strood Green Flood. It is hoped that in addition to local channels there will be links with emergency planners at MVDC. 27 February 2016: Wheels 4U AGM 27th Feb 2016

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Bob Bartlett about to begin the BERT presentation

Taxi that was washed away when crossing the bridge

Bob Thomas explaining how BERT-I was monitoring water levels

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28 February 2016: Simon Budd and the team cleared blocked drains outside the church on The Green and in Tanners Meadow near the junction with Middle Street. Two wheelbarrows full of debris were removed from the first

Traffic marshals on The Green – our new and first young lady recruit!

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The new specialist double spade works wonders in the blocked drains Good Friday 25 March 2016. At the request of SCC Highways the team under Bob Thomas and Simon Budd attended outside Spring Cottage in Wheelers Lane to try to get the camera into the culvert to film the obstruction. After a period without rain it poured overnight but an attempt was made to complete the task by damming both sides of the road to isolate the culvert and then to film. However the flow of water was too great and at this point it also flows up hill, which exacerbated the problem. After several hours with a large team the attempt had to be abandoned. The team will return.

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Easter Sunday 27 March 2016: Two elderly residents of Glenfield Road contacted BERT at 0830 to report their gardens and garages were flooded and they were concerned about their homes. It seems to have been caused by sewage overflowing.

Bob Thomas attended immediately along with Simon Budd and members of Young BERT. If it was foul water then this was beyond the capability of the team given the inherent health risks and the need to clean any equipment used in a specialist way. Bob Thomas made contact with Thames Water workmen in Middle Street as they discovered the possible cause of the overflow and encouraged them to meet him at the flooded houses so a clear up can begin. This they did.

Bob Thomas “About 6 properties affected by foul water in garages, under floors of houses etc., with power loss at one house. Lanes (Thames Water contractor) cleared issue in Middle Street and then undertook a clean up at affected premises.

Sandbags collected and installed to allay fears of one lady for more rain to come.

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Glenfield Road Photo 27 March from Mick Went a BERT team member of the rising water in the ditch at Spring Cottage. The water is added to from the new build of two houses alongside and is being pursued by the parish council with MVDC planners.

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Bank Holiday Monday 28 March 2016: Heavy rain and high winds during Storm Katie. Team members resolved an issue in the main drainage ditch where a dustbin had washed into the system severely restricting the flow of water under Middle Street by the pavilion. This was a part of the cause of the major flood at Christmas 2013.

Trees were reported down in a number of locations including in the Mole close to the footbridge/Bowls Club. The path there was flooded. The Environment Agency has been informed.

A very large tree came down in Wellhouse Lane and BERT chairman Bob Thomas attended and marked with high viz tape and informed SCC. BERT team later removed the tree – see pictures below.

The grills were cleared twice by the church and on the Green and as always the major constrictions were caused by litter. The culvert entrances close to The Smithers were also cleared and yet again the major cause of the blockages was plastic and tree/hedge cuttings. Once the grills are free the water then begins to drop in the ditches significantly.

The BERT-I flood warning monitors were activated in on Tanners Brook and the Mole near the Bowls Club. There was concern that the main bridge would flood and so BERT advisory road closed signs were deployed to standby locations.

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Duke’s Head path

Bob Thomas in Wellhouse Lane

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Wellhouse Lane

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Miles Cresswell and Paul Edwards led a team of Young BERT to remove the tree and open the road.

The next tree was in Wonham Lane by the Dolphin

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In 20 minutes the lads cut up the tree and moved it opening the road.

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Old School Lane was closed and signed by BERT

BERT member Roger Roberts and local residents removed obstructions restricting the flow of water after high winds. This is the bin removed from the main drainage ditch 253

254 Robert Bartlett where it was blocking much of the flow. The other issue this brings is where are the contents of the bin – now blocking water flows? A fence panel was also washed into the system but the flow was too fast for it to be removed and the area will be revisited as soon as water levels and speeds make it practicable.

29 March 2016 Tuesday – back to work. BERT member Simon Budd was out early checking the bridges, which were found to be open. The village were informed via community email.

31 March 2016: On behalf on Betchworth Parish Council, can I thank BERT for a fantastic job in clearing the trees on Wellhouse and Wonham Lane at the weekend after storm Katie?

We are very envious of BERT here in Betchworth and would love to have a similar set up, but are a bit hampered by the size of our village and the age of a lot of our population. We would like to have something in place though in case of emergency and will be looking at ways of doing this in the next few months. We may come to you for advice!

In the meantime many thanks again; how lucky we are to have you as the next village With best wishes, Julie Hardy

Chairman of Betchworth Parish Council

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April 3 2016 A copy of the BERT log can be found at: https://issuu.com/bert.brockham www.facebook.com/BertBev

BERT/BEV Deployment The following is an extract from the leadership team plan to mobilise volunteers: 1. What can BERT do to ameliorate the impact of the threats? What follows is a generic response which can be adapted to meet all of the threats and potential incidents likely to involve BERT. It is based on NORMAL, WARNING and ALERT phases. a. NORMAL is as it seems, a time to prepare, plan and train. Also a time to recruit and organise a range of volunteers for BERT and BEV. b. ALERT is where bad weather is predicted and BERT moves to ensure all arrangements to respond are in place and effective c. WARNING is when the EVENT materialises and action is required d. POST EVENT is immediately after the event has passed but there is much to do in clearing up or assisting te vulnerable and victims.

ALERT 1. Gather and disseminate information on the weather and flow of the Mole 2. Notify through community email a move to a “ALERT� phase identifying what people and equipment is available and to check communications 3. Identify and nominate available leadership for BERT and BEV during the potential event.

4. Identify BEV availability particularly for the evacuation and control centre in the church hall to include mobile phones and the monitoring of social media. (MVDC have a responsibility for a Rest Centre probably in Dorking) 5. Ensure the GO BERT emergency number is working effectively 6. Have bridge closed signs ready deployment 7. Check that pumps and other equipment are ready for deployment 8. Check trailer is ready for deployment 9. Identify who will deliver the trailer to the scene of a deployment 10. If necessary have BEVS identify and visit vulnerable residents WARNING 1. On moving to WARNING phase, as the event develops and premises are threatened, deploy BERT to monitor roads and vulnerable sites.

2. Community email to notify the move to the WARNING phase and on-going information, guidance and threats 3. Mobilise BERT leadership structure

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5. Control Centre will maintain a log of events and activity including the names of volunteers deployed, when and where they deployed and when they finished their task.

6. Control Centre will act as a focal point for the community and statutory and emergency services 7. Deploy BERT and BEVs via the leadership structure as required 8. Once deployed BEV and BERT will wear high visibility tabards and if required, protective clothing 9. At all times the activities of Young BERT will be monitored and if necessary supervised.

10. No volunteer at any time is to place/himself or herself at risk or to operate beyond their level of competence. BERT is not an emergency service but will assist the community of Brockham within the limits of the capability of its volunteers.

11. If self-deployed as a BERT/BEV member, then the BERT leadership structure should be made aware of where the volunteer is and what role is being undertaken.

12. Deploy a sign bin to Brockham Green as a community resource 13. Visit vulnerable residents 14. Establish a sandbag depot if predictions make this a useful asset 15. If heavy snow, deploy Young BERT and others to assist to clear access to vulnerable people’s homes.

Post Event 1. Working with parish council, MVDC, Environment Agency, SCC as necessary to ensure all help necessary is directed at the village.

2. Collate details of what has happened 3. Gather information on casualties and who has been evacuated and to where.

4. Assist with finding emergency accommodation for people having to leave their homes.

5. Consider feeding victims and volunteers 6. Plan for the tidy up phase to include litter and debris in ditches and watercourses.

7. Assist victims who need help liaising with insurers and form filling 8. Check vulnerable people 9. Clean and maintain all equipment ready for a future deployment 10. Undertake a “hot” debrief soon after the event to draw on learning and experience including effectiveness of BERT/BEV and equipment Emergency Assistance Centre/control: Church Hall, which will act as a liaison point for parishioners and emergency services. Modern media such as Facebook and Twitter will be monitored and information collated and circulated via community email. Staffed

by BEVs who will also provide comfort for the evacuated before they can be sent on to the MVDC emergency Rest Centre at Dorking Halls

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