The following flood alert was received from the Environment Agency this morning:
A Flood Alert has been issued by the Environment Agency.
Flood Alert in force: Groundwater flooding in the Salisbury Plain area.
Flooding is possible for: Boscombe, Cholderton, Collingbourne Ducis, Hanging Langford, Hindon, Hurdcott, Idmiston, Newton Tony, Orcheston, Porton, Salisbury, Shipton Bellinger, Shrewton, Stratford Sub Castle, Tidworth, Tilshead, Tisbury, Wilton, Winterbourne Stoke and Woodford.
Be prepared.
Groundwater levels have risen in response to recent and prolonged rainfall. This morning’s level at the Terraces Borehole is 115.07 mAOD on the 19/12/19. Levels will continue to rise and flooding of fields and roads is expected. Following prolonged periods of heavy rain, groundwater levels have continued to respond. Levels are high and further rainfall is expected over the next few days and we would expect to see levels rise in response. Residents are advised to prepare property resilience measures and ensure that pumps are working where they have been installed.
We may start to see flooding on roads in these affected areas. We are continuing to monitor the situation and will update this message as the situation changes.
This morning, water levels in the Tilshead borehole reached 94.83mAOD against a flood level of 99mAOD:
The recharge rate has increased 6-fold over the last two or three days. If the recharge of the aquifer continues at the same rate, the graph shows that we may have groundwater flooding in the village in less than a week.
No flood alert has yet been given for the River Till. However, water levels are rising rapidly and already the meadow to the south of the village is beginning to flood. More rain is now being forecast over the next few days and the Environment Agency is advising those with properties prone to groundwater flooding take appropriate measures.
Wiltshire Council advise the following on their website:
As a property owner it is your responsibility to protect your property from flooding. The council is unable to supply sandbags in advance of any flood warnings and you should make your own arrangements to purchase and arrange for delivery to your home by local builders merchants (see yellow pages for suppliers)
If you are in imminent danger of flooding telephone 0300 456 0105.
Sandbags
Wiltshire Council have a limited supply of sandbags and any requests for them during an emergency will be considered on a case by case basis and prioritised by level of need or vulnerability for example the elderly or infirm and the protection of commercial property to prevent environmental pollution.
Once delivered, sandbags are the responsibility of the householder and you will need to make arrangements for their disposal following the incident.
Locally, sandbags and sand can be obtained from the following suppliers identified by Wiltshire Council:
Please note that Winterbourne Stoke Parish Council is unable to provide householders with sandbags, sand, or gel sacs.
If you experience groundwater flooding, please let the Parish Clerk know. Whilst we are unable to do do a great deal to assist, we can organise manpower, as we have done in the past.
Please can you ensure your neighbours, who may not have seen this article on the website, the link on Facebook, or the village noticeboard, are made aware of this flood alert.
Should the Environment Agency issue a flood alert for the River Till, or upgrade/downgrade the current groundwater alert, we will issue another notice here.