THERE is little doubt that the severity and sheer scale of the flooding which struck on Boxing Day last year took many by surprise.

The authorities were slow to react as countless householders and business owners saw their homes and livelihoods disappear under water.

A year on, many of those who suffered are still struggling to fully recover from the terrible events.

Money has been pumped in or pledged to various schemes designed to avoid a recurrence of what happened.

But victims are sceptical. And you can understand why.

At Stockbridge, blocked and faulty drains were to blame for much of the problem – and yet those haven't been addressed.

Residents must be listened to so any work carried out is meaningful.