AN UPDATE on plans to tackle recurring flooding in Malmesbury has been given.
The most recent incident of flash flooding occurred in April when heavy rain led to waterlogged football pitches, a submerged bowling green and a builders merchant was also forced to temporarily close.
Wiltshire Council, Malmesbury Town Council and the Environmental Agency have been working together over the past few months on a community-led flood defence scheme aimed at tackling recurring flooding which regularly affects St Johns, Lower High Street and the Baskerville area.
A public meeting was held in Malmesbury Town Hall on Tuesday, July 11 to share progress.
A presentation was delivered by flood expert Edward Evans, Wiltshire Council principal drainage engineer Danny Everett and Malmesbury town councillor Steve D'Arcy.
They covered a timeline for flood alleviation activity since the severe flood event around St John's Street in 2012.
Key elements of the scheme include a temporary barrier installed across the memorial gates and construction work to increase the height of the wall bounding the northern bank of the leat (stream) running through Cuckingstool Mead.
In addition, demountable defences to stop floodwater will be erected, pumps will be put in place and flood resilience measures to protect properties that benefit less from the improvement works upstream have been planned.
Further work to improve the river flow downstream from St John's bridge is also in the works.
Currently £50,000 funding has been allocated to complete detailed modelling work for the scheme, and a further £550,000 provisional funding is in place for future development and implementation, pending approval.
Wiltshire Council leader Richard Clewer said: "Following the floods in 2012, the Environment Agency commissioned a flood modelling survey.
"They concluded that a large scale flood defence scheme would require major engineering works and could not be justified as the cost of such a scheme would exceed the economic value of the damage to the relatively small number of properties at risk.
"Therefore, a community-led flood scheme is being developed by Malmesbury Town Council and flood wardens which has been supported by Wiltshire Council.
"We are currently agreeing funding with the Wessex Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, and we are working with the Environment Agency to gain approval for the scheme.
"We will update the community on progress and next steps as soon as we can."
Cllr D'Arcy is among those driving the campaign for flood defences for the St John's, Lower High Street and Baskerville areas of the town.
He said: "There have been many flooding events in Malmesbury in recent years, and the expectation is that climate change is likely to increase the frequency and severity of future flooding.
"A number of steps have already been taken to improve the flow of water through town since that flood, which has reduced, but not eliminated the risk to residents.
"At this stage of development, the exact nature of the construction work likely to affect local residents is uncertain, and so the purpose of the meeting was simply to raise awareness of the scheme and to provide reassurance that full and detailed consultations will be held as the scheme progresses."
More information is available at malmesbury.gov.uk
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