Hundreds attend Bradford-on-Avon flood information event

BBC News

5 days ago

Hundreds of people have attended a special event held to provide information on how to protect homes and businesses from flooding.The River Avon has burst in banks in Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire on numerous occasions in recent years, flooding nearby roads and buildings.The event came just a week after a multi-million pound flood protection scheme for the town was scrapped, so the Environment Agency and other organisations were present to listen to local concerns.One local resident - who said he had eight feet of water in his basement last year - said he wanted to hear something to "give the population some hope".
Mark Dunn lives in an old mill next to the river and said: "For 360 days a year it's idyllic. For four or five days a year, it's pretty terrifying to see 30,000 litres of water go by your window a second."He explained he has been in the home for the last three big floods in the town - 2013, 2012 and 2024.
'Writing on the wall'
"We know we can't completely get rid of it, but I was hoping to hear about something to be offered to give the population some hope" he added, disappointed that the £11m protection scheme was scrapped.Mr Dunn felt the scheme would have been worth the money because of the impact of the floods in the area ,and said residents do end up feeling abandoned."The climate is only going to get worse. The writing is on the wall," he added.He said he did not hear what he wanted to hear at the event but added it was "good news" that the local MP and Environment Agency are not giving up on finding a solution.
Local Liberal Democrat MP Brian Mathew was at the event and told the BBC he has been speaking to the head of the Environment Agency about the issue."There's no single one solution," he said, adding that the original £11m plan "wouldn't have been enough".He added: "There's not a lot of point in spending a lot of money on what wouldn't have been enough anyway."Mr Mathew said people are concerned and worried, and that more does need to be done for his constituents.
"The voluntary flood wardens have been absolutely brilliant. In November, they were down at four in the morning, and they were there before us" said Mike Pugh, who runs art gallery SerenArts at the Tithe Barn workshops.He explained the community has been very supportive, but wanted to find out "who else can help form further up the ladder".
Having been there since 2009, he has experienced flooding four times, and has adapted, using plastic boxes and making sure everything can be lifted easily.Mr Pugh said it "appears to be an increasing problem".He added he uses the Environment Agency website which monitors water levels."You can calculate where it's going to get to. That's a good way of knowing when to press the panic button."
Mayor of Bradford-on-Avon Jack Vittles said he is "really, really pleased" that people have been able to speak directly to the agencies involved."A lot of people are realistic about what they can do in their own homes and they're clued up on that now."I want to make sure people get the full story" he added.The Environment Agency has said previously that it is "committed to supporting Bradford-on-Avon in adapting to flood risks through community resilience measures".Wiltshire Council and Wessex Water were among the other organisations there responding to residents.