Godshill has been hit with its second dust storm inside a matter of weeks. Residents say that they don’t remember such an occurence during the past 20-odd years. Much of Church Hollow, Church Hill, School Road, School Crescent, Moor View and Ternal Mead saw the sun disappear from the sky as a cloud of sand or dust descended over the area yesterday afternoon. Some reported it lying up to an inch deep. It is unknown as to what might be in this dust. If it is coming off the fields being cultivated by Staples, as several Church Hill residents report, it may include fertilisers or other agricultural chemicals. Godshill Online encouraged residents to contact the Isle of Wight Public Health Department (01983 823670) this morning.
At one point, the conditions were so severe that visitors to Godshill were unable to walk up Church Hollow to the church. The duststorm was blowing in their faces and they had to turn back. Many said that it totally ruined their visit to Godshill.
With winds gusting to over 50 tomorrow we may well see this all over again.
Comments flooded in to the Friends of Godshill Facebook group including:
Benjamin Dyer
Well it’s been a interesting weather week hasn’t it. Rain, floods, mud slides, now dust clouds from the bare fields… is this Godshill or Mars? The bare fields are really causing mayhem. The Whitwell road was a torrent of mud. Our house is currently full of sand / dust with this wind, would be a nightmare for asthmatics. I have an inch of that field’s contents inside every room of the house!
Marilyn O’Loughlin
My beautiful garden is ruined I’m so upset. Ours is covered in dust too as our backs right onto a field. I’m also asthmatic and had to stay in all day as I feel tight chested from it even though the doors and windows are shut.
Tracy Wilkinson Morgan
It’s awful. Dust everywhere in my house. My garden sofas a complete mess. All my vegetables in my greenhouse are smothered in it and well what can I say about my car, it’s crazy as I’ve lived here for 15 years and this is the first year it has happened like this! I had put some washing out just before it was all blowing around I got it in within 15 mins and my clothes are ruined. I’ve washed it again twice and it won’t come out so will have to throw them.
Karen Sephton
All our windows are shut in Moor View, thank goodness it’s not as hot as it was! Just stepped outside for a minute & my eyes & teeth are gritty.
Claudia J Souter
I have done the same (Moor View) opened small kitchen window for 5 mins and dust everywhere
Zélie Gordon
My house is covered in it. My day off tomorrow and I’ll have to clean the whole house. Last time it happened I was walking my dog thru village. It was horrible. Such a shame for the visitors and the last thing you need as a business at the moment.
Emma Bravery
Our house in Ternal Mead is covered as well.
Zoe Davis
Well I left my windows open in the kitchen and bathroom so you can just imagine what I came home to today. It’s definitely coming off the fields at the back of me.
Karen Bradley
Our house is covered inside and out, greenhouse is covered as are my garden plants. The whole house needs cleaning!
Ann Walker
I look out my back door towards the church I thought it was smoke. I did not realise it was dust. Can you believe what is happening in Godshill?
Annabel Robin Cattle (Daisy Daisy)
My shop and its contents are once again completely covered with orange dust. The visitors trying to enjoy the village yesterday were really struggling. I had many many comments about how awful it was and how it had ruined their visit. No-one was going up to the Church as the dust blowing down Church Hollow was just too extreme. It took us over a week to get it all cleaned up last time. In the 13 years we’ve been in Godshill this is the first year we have ever had problems with dust storms.