Mill Still Open!

Otterton Mill escaped the worst of the flooding yesterday, and is open for business as normal. Although both its carparks flooded, the main site escaped the flood waters by just feet.

Mill owners Caroline and Simon Spiller said "We are extremely grateful that the flood waters did not reach the main buildings, and that the only damage has been to the carpark surface and to our nature reserve. The water rose to just a few feet from our Devon Food Shop, and overlapped from the Mill leat into the inner courtyard, just inches from the Jewellery Studio and Craft Shop. One more foot of water would have been disastrous for us. Having been severely flooded two years ago, we were very worried and stayed on-site until late in the evening when the waters finally started to recede. Our hearts go out to all the people in Cornwall whose homes and businesses flooded yesterday. We know exactly what they are going through."

"We are extremely grateful to Clinton Devon Estates, to Devon County Council and to the Environment Agency for undertaking work to clear the flood culverts next to Otterton bridge earlier this year. This undoubtedly helped to divert the flood waters to the flood plain on the opposite bank. If the work hadn't been done, we are convinced that the Mill would have suffered much more extensive flooding yesterday, and would have had to close for business."

Otterton Mill suffered a major flood two years ago in October 2008, and was closed for business for a month while the site was restored. In June this year, remedial work was carried out to shore up the foundations of Otterton bridge after damage incurred in the flooding. At the same time, the contractors, Hannon Young, also dredged the river on either side of the bridge to smooth out the silt and pebble deposits that had built up over many years, causing an obstruction to the river's course. It was hoped that this would help to improve the river's flow and possibly reduce future flood impact and further damage to the bridge. The contractors also cleared flood culverts and ditches along the river banks to help bring them back into use during the periods of flood.

Date added: Thursday 18th November 2010
Latest updated: Sunday 29th April 2012