Section 19 flood report recommends action points for West Berkshire Council

Flood prevention works have been prioritised in West Berkshire.

Around 40 flood prone locations have been highlighted in the council’s consultant report.

Burghfield Bridge gets an eight-point plan, including recommendations for actions such as surveys of the highways drains, and the report says there may be the potential to divert flow from the Kennet and Avon Canal into fields to the north as a form of temporary storage and controlled release.

The recommendations say West Berkshire Council (WBC) should review the ownership and maintenance requirements associated with the culvert under Station Road in Pingewood and it should investigate the feasibility of clearing the northern railway culvert next to Green Park.

In 2024 floods from early January to late March, during which West Berkshire was affected by flooding as a result of Storms Henk, Isha and Jocelyn, triggered an investigation.

The council hired consultant WSP to draft out recommendations after conducting what is known as a Section 19 Investigation.

The S19 report is intended to determine actions that help to mitigate against risk to properties.

More than 50 properties flooded during January 2024 – and the report specifies actions that may reduce the likelihood of repeat events.

The areas that experienced the most severe flooding, and were therefore investigated, include Burghfield Bridge, Pingewood, Sheffield Bottom, Eastbury, Great Shefford, Lambourn, Newbury, Pangbourne, Purley-on-Thames, Streatley and Winterbourne.

Other areas that were noted to have experienced flooding, at a less significant scale, include Bucklebury, Coley, East Garston, East Ilsley, Hampstead Norreys, Shefford Woodlands, Sulhamstead, Thatcham, Theale, Upper Lambourn and West Ilsley.

It was reported that after the 2013/14 floods the Environment Agency (EA) dug a ditch behind the Fox and Hounds pub in Sheffield Bottom.

During WSP’s site visit it was noted that this ditch was blocked and full of vegetation.

They said the EA could consider clearing the ditch and creating a schedule to ensure regular maintenance of it occurs to help decrease flood risk along Deans Copse Road.

The S19 report produced by WSP contains recommendations for different flood risk management authorities including WBC and the authority is being asked to approve the action plan at this week’s full council meeting today (Thursday).

It says residents and business owners affected by flooding may benefit from property flood resilience measures, such as flood doors, waterproof airbricks, and placing electrical sockets at raised levels.

It goes on to say residents and business owners affected by groundwater flooding may benefit from the installation of hard flooring, non-return valves, and sump pumps to protect or make their premises more resilient from flooding during times of high ground water.

The council says all residents affected have been contacted and invited to apply for property resilience grant funding.

The top 10 suggested priority actions are that WBC should review the status of gullies along Northcroft Lane ensuring inspections are carried out at an appropriate frequency and determine whether any assets should be added to the flood risk asset register.

The Street in Mortimer also gets focus for highway drainage upgrades.

The report says an entire section of surface water highway drainage network is required due to serious failure of the existing system and flooding on the highway presenting a risk to the public.

At Membury Industrial Estate/Ramsbury Road, it says highway drainage upgrades are needed due to serious failure of the existing system and flooding of several businesses over recent years.

Paices Hill is also earmarked for highway drainage upgrades.

And it should investigate the road drainage along Kirtons Farm Road to determine the potential requirement for additional road drainage there.

Assessing the breach in the unnamed watercourse north of the River Lambourn and south of Dene Way, to determine whether the breach can be repaired if financially viable, is also on the list.

As is Long Lane adjacent to Mousefield Farm being overwhelmed by surface water runoff, debris from adjacent land and possible capacity issues.