String of businesses lose customers after heavy flooding from storm

By Robert Firth, Local Democracy Reporter

A takeaway spent three hours trying to unblock a street drain after water started to pour into the shop during heavy showers.

Freak downpours caused rainwater to run into shops in Southwark and Lewisham on Sunday.

Staff at Metro’s Chicken in Queen’s Road, New Cross desperately tried to clear leaves from a drain outside their takeaway as rainwater gushed into the shop.

Manager Mr Namasivayam said the electricity had gone off as a result of the flooding, but he hoped the takeaway would be back open by the end of today.

He said: “It has really affected us. The gas is off and the electricity is off. We’ve lost business because we had to close. The drain is blocked with leaves outside. Flooding has happened before – every time there’s heavy rain.

“It took us two to three hours to unblock the drain yesterday. Otherwise, it would have flooded the entire shop. We called Lewisham council about it but nobody responded. No one has come yet.”

Employees at bike shop Seabass Cycles, in Rye Lane, Peckham arrived at work on Monday to find the floor of the shop covered wall to wall in water.

Nick Kidd, 26, said he had never witnessed anything like it in the 18 months he had been working at the shop.

He said: “I had a lot of people sending me pictures last night so I knew it might be bad. I don’t think the water actually reached the shop but I think the passing buses pushed it back.

“I think we’ll be at this all day, clearing up the water. I don’t think we’re going to get any bike stuff done today. I think one of the drains outside is blocked as it’s this stretch which has been badly affected.”

Notices stuck to the door of Tesco Express, next door to Seabass Cycles, informed customers the store was closed until 3pm while staff cleaned up following yesterday’s flooding.

In New Cross, Zinat Abedin stood outside Queen’s Road Pharmacy, near Metro’s Chicken, pointing at the sludge left over from yesterday’s flooding.

The 42-year-old pharmacist said: “It’s going to affect our business if it keeps happening.

“Luckily the people at the takeaway came out and started clearing the drain yesterday. Why should they have to do it though? The council should sort it out.”

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning on October 23, warning that heavy rain could cause flooding and disruption.

Lewisham council and Southwark council have been contacted for comment.

Pictured top: Street cleaner in Peckham on Monday morning after the storm (Picture: Robert Firth)