WATER chiefs have admitted there is an ‘irony’ in this week’s heavy rainfall following drought warnings.
More than twice the average amount of rain has fallen across the Vale in the last month, with the district experiencing lengthy, heavy showers over the weekend.
Highways bosses were forced to close Chilton Road in Chearsley and Shipton Lee in Quainton following heavy downpours on Monday night.
But despite the onslaught, Thames Water has said it needs ‘steady’ rainfall in order to replenish water levels.
Highways bosses at County Hall yesterday said they have 85 members of staff on alert to deal with flooding problems.
A spokesman from Thames Water told the Herald: “We’re well aware that we announced the hosepipe ban, and then we had one of the wettest Aprils on record.
“The irony isn’t lost on us. We know it’s raining, and that’s helped, but we need steady rainfall. This isn’t something we can fix in the deluge.”
Across the Thames Valley, there were 119mm of rainfall in April, 69mm above the expected level.