MALMESBURY fell victim to some of the worst flooding it has ever seen in 2012.

People were stuck in their homes due to the high water level and rescue efforts were made not only by the emergency services, but by concerned residents eager to lend a hand.

But thanks to the flood defence work that has got underway in the town this week, there should hopefully be no such horror in the future.

And with the weather we’ve been having of late, it’s surely not a minute too soon. Most of the South West was under a severe weather warning earlier this week, which goes to show just how quickly the weather can change; remember it is still supposed to be summer.

The de-silting should go some way towards preventing future flooding, however it is only a small part of the solution. The process can sometimes simply shift the flooding problem further downstream.

Extensive de-silting work can run the risk of damaging wildlife along rivers. Habitats could be destroyed and animals’ lives could be lost in the process, so it needs to be done with care and attention to the local ecosystem.

If the work is done efficiently and with an eye towards maintaining wildlife in the area, the result will be one everyone can be happy about.

Let’s hope this work spells the end of Malmesbury’s flood misery.