Reverend Tim Goode with Godstone Road resident and flood victim, Maria Chydzik in Godstone Road, Whyteleafe this week.

Community leaders in Whyteleafe have launched an appeal to alleviate the suffering of the Whyteleafe residents affected by the flooding along the A22 this week. Many residents and businesses have had to evacuate their premises due to the ever-increasing amount of floodwater, now mixed with sewerage, making the buildings uninhabitable. With no foreseeable let-up in the rainfall, it is not possible to say when the water will eventually recede.

The vicar of St. Luke's Church, Reverend Tim Goode together with other local church leaders and Cllr. Tom Dempsey and Cllr. Sally Marks have launched the 'Whyteleafe Flood Appeal' to help alleviate the residents' immediate distress and also help them to recover after the flood has gone.

Reverend Tim said: “Local people can see the suffering caused by the floods but feel powerless to help in these situations. Making a donation will not just help in a practical sense – it will also send out a strong message to the victims of the flooding that their community cares about them. We can act now to do something to help them.”

Reverend Tim explained that although insurance pay-outs should eventually compensate the residents for the damage to property and loss of household items, many of the householders' policies do not cover them adequately for such unprecedented conditions. He said: “Our response as a community needs to be immediate. Although people cannot go about replacing lost items until after the water has receded, just to be able to say to them: “Go and have a night out to cheer yourselves up a bit, on us,” will boost their morale during this very difficult time.”

To make a donation please send a cheque payable to the Whyteleafe Flood Appeal to St. Luke's Church, Whyteleafe Hill, Whyteleafe, CR3 0AA or hand cash to Reverend Tim Goode at St. Luke's Church or Cllr. Tom Dempsey at The Whyteleafe Tavern.