Flood Update

Please see below the latest information regarding flooding

There are sadly a large number still in place across the area as shown below:

• flood warnings Flooding is expected
  • Properties closest to the River Kennet at the Burghfield, Southcote, Coley and Holybrook areasUpdated 7:59am on 10 January 2024
  • River Kennet at NewburyUpdated 7:59am on 10 January 2024
  • River Kennet from Denford down to Marsh BenhamUpdated 8:00am on 10 January 2024
  • River Kennet from Mildenhall to just above HungerfordUpdated 7:40am on 10 January 2024
  • River Lambourn from Donnington to NewburyUpdated 7:59am on 10 January 2024
  • River Lambourn from Upper Lambourn to Great SheffordUpdated 7:59am on 10 January 2024
  • River Thames at Goring and StreatleyUpdated 8:20am on 10 January 2024
  • River Thames at Purley VillageUpdated 8:19am on 10 January 2024
• flood alerts Flooding is possible
  • Groundwater flooding in the Great Shefford areaUpdated 9:36am on 9 January 2024
  • Groundwater flooding in the Lambourn Valley catchmentUpdated 11:26am on 5 January 2024
  • Groundwater flooding in West Ilsley, East Ilsley, Compton, Chilton and West HagbourneUpdated 9:07am on 10 January 2024
  • River Kennet and its tributaries from Berwick Bassett down to NewburyUpdated 9:05am on 10 January 2024
  • River Kennet from Thatcham down to ReadingUpdated 9:05am on 10 January 2024
  • River Lambourn and its tributaries from Upper Lambourn down to NewburyUpdated 9:05am on 10 January 2024
  • River Pang from East Ilsley to Pangbourne and Sulham BrookUpdated 9:05am on 10 January 2024
  • River Thames and its tributaries from Days Lock to above PangbourneUpdated 9:08am on 10 January 2024
  • River Thames from Pangbourne to PurleyUpdated 9:08am on 10 January 2024

It should be noted that for the next few days to come and until the Thames reduces the levels in the Kennet and Lambourn will remain high not least since they are fed by groundwater and the Pang may start to be in the same position noting the new groundwater alert in place for that area. As a result whilst an ‘improving’ situation in some areas this is not the case everywhere.
 As a result we have a number of issues going on across the whole area of West Berkshire including:

• Road closures – these are changing quite a bit with the changing situation so the most up to date formal closures can be found here on one.network
• Reports of sewage surcharging and slowly clearing from properties.  This is most likely due to water inundation of the sewer systems in areas where groundwater flooding is a problem. Thames Water are aware and we are reporting issues to them but we would encourage residents affected to report to Thames Water too.
• The Great Shefford pumping scheme is due to start this week. The pumps and road management schemes are all being put in place with monitoring of the process being undertaken by the EA
• We continue to have officers visiting flooded and flood risk area to officer support where they can and feedback into the recovery process

A number of communities are now moving out of flood conditions so we are working with those communities to clean up the roads, undertake waste collections we have missed in the last week due to the flooding. We are also aware of an announcement on 6th January 24 about payments for communities affected by flooding: Government payments for communities affected by flooding - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) however at the moment we are pending information about the details of the scheme. We shall update as soon as we know more.
Information for residents and communities about cleaning up after floods can be found here: Keeping Safe and Well When Cleaning Your Home After Flooding - West Berkshire Council 
Finally for the moment I am sure you are also aware it has got colder in the next few days with temperatures dropping below freezing overnight. Our contractors will be out gritting and are paying attention to ‘wet spots’ on the primary network in line with the Road Gritting and Snow Clearance - West Berkshire Council