Today, those of us living in the lower reaches of the town received our long-awaited letters from the Environment Agency telling us to be prepared for flooding .

Today, those of us living in the lower reaches of the town received our long-awaited letters from the Environment Agency telling us to 'be prepared for flooding'.This is strictly in respect of flooding from the sea, not flooding from surface water or water from the brooks. In fact, there is no system of warning us about the brooks. That is interesting, because at least two decades ago the man who designed our flood protection scheme declared that, if we kept building in the lower town, we would lay ourselves open to flooding against which there could be no protection.Well, severe stress is now being put on sewers by the conversion of family houses to multiple use, with the obvious consequences. I simply cannot understand why the authorities still permit this practice, knowing what they do about the risks. Neither can I understand why those of us who live here can be expected just to sit back and watch it happen without protest. Ann Prior, 75 Egremont Road, Exmouth.