The mayor of Uckfield, in East Sussex, wants to move the town’s shopping district uphill out of danger from flooding at a cost of several millions of pounds.
Mike Skinner wants to demolish the deluged town’s low-lying buildings and reconstruct them on higher ground on the car park and football field with government aid. John Prescott, deputy prime minister, offered 3,000 vacant ministry of defence buildings to victims who were unable to return to their homes in areas of Kent. Rail and road users face continued disruption.
Floods and storms are continuing with more rain and severe gales expected to hit over the next two days. An area the size of Lancashire is said to be under water. The Centre for Economics and Business Research said the flooding would cost the economy at least £1.5bn.
Financial Times 08/11/00 page 4
The Daily Telegraph 08/11/00 page 8
The Times 08/11/00 page 9
The Guardian 08/11/00 page 11
The Independent 08/11/00 page 2
