Flooding is a significant risk across Wiltshire and Swindon and this is being exacerbated by the onset of Climate Change. 

It can manifest as surface water flooding on our roads after a heavy downpour, fluvial flooding when rivers burst their banks or groundwater flooding which can often be experienced in and around the Salisbury Plain area. The number of storms being named by the Met Office is increasing year on year and this looks set to continue. Climate Change is seen as a ‘chronic risk’ and flooding is certainly a symptom of this.

Flooding issues are very prevalent in some of our towns and villages. Bradford-on-Avon regularly experiences flooding and there continues to be challenges for the town in finding a long-term solution to this ongoing issue. Chippenham experienced extensive flooding following Storm Bert in November 2024 when the River Avon burst its banks causing extensive flooding in the High Street and surrounding area. Salisbury is susceptible to flooding and has seen extensive investment in flood defences in recent years. 

With flooding being a very real issue for many communities, September saw a series of workshops held in Marlborough and Salisbury specifically aimed at Flood Wardens. These were organised by the LRF Community Resilience Officer in conjunction with colleagues from Wiltshire Council and the Environment Agency.

A Flood Warden is a volunteer who serves as a local link between their community and agencies such as Councils and the Environment Agency. They act as the community’s ‘eyes and ears’ on the ground, providing local knowledge and passing on crucial information such as flood warnings and safety advice to help residents build resilience against flood events. 

The workshops aimed to equip Flood Wardens with the knowledge, skills and confidence to effectively support their communities before, during and after a flood event. The workshops increased awareness by educating volunteers on local flood risks and warning systems, and trained them in emergency procedures, plans and communication protocols. The importance of supporting vulnerable people and promoting preparedness within local neighbourhoods was highlighted. As always, nobody is of any use if they put themselves in danger, so there was specific emphasis on personal safety measures and risk assessing a dynamic situation. 

There were various inputs throughout both days with practical instruction around sandbags and the placement of road signs. Knowledge was shared, for example, Marlborough Town Council gave an input on their experience of flooding during Storm Henk in January 2024. They demonstrated a Flood Dashboard that has been developed since to help residents have a better understanding of flood risk. The dashboard can be found on their website www.marlborough-tc.gov.uk. They have been supported by Action for the River Kennet (ARK) and Pang Valley Flood Forum in developing this piece of work. 

Other matters such as the thorny issue of insurance and riparian ownership (the rights and responsibilities that come with owning land that adjoins a watercourse such as a river, stream or ditch) were also covered.

Chris Manuel, Wiltshire and Swindon LRF Community Resilience Officer said “Flood Wardens play a key role in their communities. These workshops were timely with Autumn now upon us. They were well attended by people who take the risk of flooding very seriously in their neighbourhoods.  It provided a forum to understand risk, share ideas, exchange views and identify best practice. I’m sure their attendance at the workshops will help build resilience within their own areas.”