Flood damage causing Poole pensioners thousands of pounds

Sue and Ole Boye, of Archway Road in Poole, say they have spent more than £10,000 in repair and anti-flood works following repeated instances of rain water – often reaching more than 30cm in depth – rushing into their home during stormy weather.

And after five years of pleading with BCP Council and Wessex Water for help defending against the floods, Mrs Boye said she and her husband are “helpless”.

The 73-year-old said: “We moved into this house seven years ago and two days after we were flooded.

“We had never been in that situation before, we still had unpacked boxes and lost belongings.

Rainwater shortly before flooding property in Archway Road in Poole (Image: Sue Boye)

“We phoned what was Poole Council who told us it was not their responsibility, in my naivety I thought that was the case – I was looking for help and advice and never got further than that.

“The water was up the first step of the stairs, that was how much came in.”

84-year-old Mr Boye, meanwhile, has gone out at night in swirling ankle deep water trying to protect the house by clearing blocked gullies.

Mrs Boye said her house flooded in June this year and told the council she would be contacting the media if she didn’t get a response from them.

Ole Boye, 84, tries to clear gullies at 3am outside his home in Poole during a recent flood (Image: Sue Boye)

“They were there the same day, I was flabbergasted,” she continued.

She said the council agreed to put in a new drain but since then things have come to a standstill.

“That was seven weeks ago and still nothing has been done,” she added.

“You can guarantee if I stopped paying the council tax I would be in court within three months.

“We’ve done what we can and spent a fortune, I just think it’s about time they started thinking of us as people and not just a job. We can’t take this anymore.”

Poole pensioners Sue and Ole Boye of Archway Road (Image: Newsquest)

The pensioners are preparing to spend another £10,000 on further anti-flood work including a new wall and waterproof gate at the expense of their car parking space.

A BCP Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of an increased flood risk at this property, due to its geographical location in the upper reaches of Branksome Chine.

“Working alongside Wessex Water, we have now agreed to improve the highway gullies that take surface water away from the area and into drains. We are due to start on these improvements early next month.

“A review of the area is ongoing and should help us determine whether any other measures could be introduced to mitigate risk in the future.”