This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/7114444.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Flood families' Christmas misery | Flood families' Christmas misery |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| An estimated 200 families made homeless during the summer floods in a Gloucestershire town are facing Christmas in caravans. | An estimated 200 families made homeless during the summer floods in a Gloucestershire town are facing Christmas in caravans. |
| Thousands of properties in Tewkesbury were left badly damaged by the June and July deluges. | Thousands of properties in Tewkesbury were left badly damaged by the June and July deluges. |
| About 1,800 are still affected with people living in rented accommodation, with relatives or in caravans. | About 1,800 are still affected with people living in rented accommodation, with relatives or in caravans. |
| The council said it was continuing to help to ease the situation for those who were still displaced. | The council said it was continuing to help to ease the situation for those who were still displaced. |
| Strategic Director of Operations Chris Shaw said: "It's horrible people have to be in caravans at Christmas, we're doing all we can to help those affected. | Strategic Director of Operations Chris Shaw said: "It's horrible people have to be in caravans at Christmas, we're doing all we can to help those affected. |
| "We've set up a temporary launderette at Tewkesbury School and we're putting on events to get children out so they don't feel cramped in the caravans all of the time. We have to be there for people as far as we can." | "We've set up a temporary launderette at Tewkesbury School and we're putting on events to get children out so they don't feel cramped in the caravans all of the time. We have to be there for people as far as we can." |
| Neil McFarlane had just exchanged contracts on his house in Prior's Park on the day of the July floods. | Neil McFarlane had just exchanged contracts on his house in Prior's Park on the day of the July floods. |
| It's been devastating really, we've just had to get on with our lives, but it's been unbelievable, terrible Neil McFarlane, flood victim | It's been devastating really, we've just had to get on with our lives, but it's been unbelievable, terrible Neil McFarlane, flood victim |
| He had bought the property from his parents who had lived there for 17 years and had never been flooded. | He had bought the property from his parents who had lived there for 17 years and had never been flooded. |
| "It's been devastating really, we've just had to get on with our lives, but it's been unbelievable, terrible," he said. | "It's been devastating really, we've just had to get on with our lives, but it's been unbelievable, terrible," he said. |
| "The insurance companies have been lax, it's just waiting and waiting, you get over one hurdle and you've got another one." | "The insurance companies have been lax, it's just waiting and waiting, you get over one hurdle and you've got another one." |
| He and his girlfriend are living in a caravan next to their home, but are able to sleep upstairs in the house at night. | He and his girlfriend are living in a caravan next to their home, but are able to sleep upstairs in the house at night. |
| The couple have been told they may get back into the property in January at the earliest and March at the latest, while it continues to dry out. | The couple have been told they may get back into the property in January at the earliest and March at the latest, while it continues to dry out. |
| "We're going away for Christmas because there's nothing here for Christmas. It's ruined really," he added. | "We're going away for Christmas because there's nothing here for Christmas. It's ruined really," he added. |
| Only about a quarter of the 130,000 claims made to insurers have been settled. | Only about a quarter of the 130,000 claims made to insurers have been settled. |
| A representative of the Association of British Insurers (ABI) will visit some of the borough's victims next week. | A representative of the Association of British Insurers (ABI) will visit some of the borough's victims next week. |
| In Worcestershire, 36 households in the Wyre Forest area are "still displaced", the district council said, and people from four properties in the Malvern Hills area are affected. |