I'll remember my wellies next time I cover Uplyme Parish Council!

By Nub News Editor Francesca Evans

I've covered countless council and public meetings in village halls, community rooms, theatres, churches, and the slightly grander guildhalls over the years.

During lockdown I even covered one outside in a car park, and plenty of virtual meetings via Zoom.

But last week was the first time I had to wade out of a meeting!

With fears over the future of Uplyme garage, village shop and post office the hot topic of the moment, I headed out last Wednesday evening to cover a parish council meeting where it was top of the agenda.

When I arrived at Uplyme Village Hall the river was already raging and puddles were pooling in the car park, but I didn't think much of it. After all, the rain seemed to be leaving off.

How wrong was I?

Midway through the meeting it started coming down so hard that it was difficult to hear the debate over the sound of the rain hitting the roof.

Volunteer flood wardens John Fowler and James Booth, who were both sat in the public forum, quickly sprung into action, dashing in and out of the hall in their hi-vis jackets and with various brooms in hand.

I wasn't 100 per cent convinced as they tried to assure councillors "everything's fine", but I was still shocked when I eventually left to find a torrent of water running through the car park.

Some weren't too fussed about getting their feet wet and quickly dashed out to their cars, but I had - perhaps rather stupidly - parked in the 'overflow' car park (no pun intended!) at the back of the hall, the driveway to which runs right alongside the river and was now well underwater.

After a few minutes of panic and dreading what would have been a very damp walk home, one of the council's newest members, Pete Hackett, came to my rescue.

He showed me to the back door of the hall and helped me to climb – rather ungracefully – over its flood defence gate, plopping my very non-waterproof boots into a deep puddle on the other side. Needless to say I was not dressed for the occasion.

Never mind! I was just thankful I had parked my little Smart Car on a slight slope and it had avoided the worst of the water.

I jumped in and was waved out of a gate onto the main road through the village – the river quickly spilling onto it – by volunteers John and James, who I am told stayed out until the early hours of the morning in torrential rain to help their neighbours. Community spirit at its best.

I don't often get out to Uplyme Parish Council meetings as they regularly clash with those of the town council in Lyme Regis, but I think next time I'll take my wellies, just in case!

Back home I couldn't help but think of the volunteers who helped me out, and all the emergency services called out to help others.

I also stayed up until the early hours of the morning, gathering and reporting as much flood information as I could from home to post on the Nub News and LymeOnline websites, but at least I was able to do that from the comfort of my own bed.

While mine turned out to be one of those 'guess what happened to me' stories, there are many across the Axe Valley who have suffered the very real effects of last week's storm. And as I write this, more heavy rain is thrashing down outside – I can only hope you are all safe and well.