March 2, 2001 10:00: A DESPERATE pub manager has spoken of the worry of losing his home and business after his road was closed because of flooding.

Roger Kneuss, of the Black Horse Inn, Vale Road, Chesham, spoke out at a flood crisis meeting held at Chesham Town Hall on Wednesday night. He said his profits had dropped by 70 per cent, leaving him in financial difficulties, since the road was blocked five weeks ago.

He said: "We moved in about four months ago. We were just getting it going, had redecorated and then this happened.

"We only had three people in at lunch time. We are struggling. We cannot go on much longer."

More than 200 worried residents packed into the hall looking for solutions to the flooding in areas around Chesham, which include The Vale, Berkhampstead Road and Missenden Road.

But they were angry to find that Thames Water had not turned up.

Chiltern district councillor Elizabeth Stacey (Con, Cholesbury and The Lee) said: "It was so unfortunate Thames Water didn't make it. They should have gone.

"I did phone them to enquire and they gave me the impression that they were wriggling out of it. The question is, are Thames Water taking as much water as they can?"

Andrew Boyd, a spokesman for Thames Water, said: "We made it known to the town clerk that we would not be going to the meeting.

"We have spoken to many residents and we made it clear that we would like to be told if any new problems emerged.

"As far as I'm aware, there are no problems pumping locally."

Jim Stevens, Highways Area Manager for the Chilterns and South Bucks area, said CCTV cameras will be put through the sewage systems to examine the problems.

Once the water has gone down, they will look at the site and find a solution.

David Telford, consultant engineer for the Environment Agency, said: "We are not going to change things overnight. It is an act of God and we don't see these things happening very often."