We are an elderly couple with a dream to retire to the Isle of Wight (may-be around the Bembridge area). At the time we were looking into selling up our house and buying over there, we overheard someone mention in a conversation that he would never consider a property in the I.of W. because of the high risk of flooding.
Is there anyone around here who knows the island well and can point out how much truth there is in the above remark?
I have had a look at the enviroment agencies flood maps for the Isle of Wight and they estimate that no mopre than about 5 per cent of the island is subject to flooding and that is in the places you would expect around the coast and along rivers. They did indicate that parts of bembridge are subject to flooding so if you went there you would have to pick your spot carefully
Originally posted by Irate bob: Go to the environment agency website. On the right there is a box you can enter the post code and it tells you if it is a high flood area.
A quick search on Bembridge didn't look like a flood area to me.
The Environment Agency now seems to mark anywhere near water a flood risk.
The house we bought 4 years ago was near the beach and putting in the postcode then showed no risk. Put it in now and it states it's in a flood risk area which is ridiculous as in those 4 years there's never been more than the odd puddle...
Regarding Bebmbridge - having sailed in there many times, high tides (especially spring tides) do often break onto the shore...
Thank you, folks, for pointing us to the Environment Agency's site which is indeed a help. Yes, the Bembridge area looks a little worrying - so we'll try and avoid it or be careful where we end up.
May Roger06 never have to contend with anything more serious than those few puddles! Cheers all!
Statistically, everywhere is at risk of flooding. Its the probability that counts. The EA quotes probability as 1 in so many years such as 1 in 4 or 1 in 75. The best guide to whether a place will flood is if it has already flooded in the past so get checking. The other thing to consider is insurance. Insurance companies check the EA flood maps. However, they check the risk by postcode and it is quite possible that the centre of the postcode is in a flood risk zone while you are not and your premium will be loaded accordingly (or even insurance declined). This also works the other way round - my house is in a flood risk zone (not flooded in recorded history though) but the centre of the postcode is not.
