South Winterbourne Community Flood Action Group (SWCFAG)
South Winterbourne Community
Flood Action Group (SWCFAG)
for Winterbourne Abbas, Winterbourne Steepleton
near Dorchester in Dorset, UK
Views from Rew Bridge (between Martinstown & Steepleton) looking west - before and after clearing.
We are a SELF HELP community group formed in October 2013 whose aim is to help lessen the impact of flooding in the beautiful South Winterbourne valley by co-ordinating the efforts of the village communities, riparian owners, parish councils and larger land owners/farmers to maintain the existing infrastructure in the best possible condition whilst observing and safeguarding the ecology and wildlife.
Some important points :
a) The South Winterbourne stream has a staggering catchment area and is the only way that surface water can run from the valley to the River Frome east of Dorchester.
b) Much of the stream / watercourse runs within quite restrictive manmade banks & walls. There are also many small bridges to private properties etc that for the most part are far too low and narrow. Recently built bridges have been far greater flow capacities and better clearances above water levels.
c) Unfortunately, the water flowing down from the source west of Abbas has high levels of nitrates. Wessex Water had to cease extracting water from their borehole in the valley for this reason. Steps are being taken by EA and the farming community to deal with this problem but it is likely to take some years to remedy.
c) Due to these nitrate levels, there is accelerated growth of the vegetation within the stream. This can naturally severely restrict water flow and tends to gather more debris. With heavy rainfall, these restrictions cause overflowing of the banks and flooding
d) There are a number of former water meadows and farming land that the stream runs through in the valley and these assist in times of serious water flows by allowing some flooding and greater water capacity.
We have proved that simple and careful removal of the majority of this vegetation on an annual basis allows the stream to cope with the flows generated. This in turn has prevented serious flooding since 2012.
However, climate change and changing weather patterns will present more challenges in the future and this clearing will become ever more important. Mother Nature will always have the upper hand !
Steepleton : The 2021 annual clearing of the South Winterbourne by our local contractor in the Steepleton areas was undertaken in late October 2021. Small volunteer groups have undertaken some local clearing during the year.
Abbas : Highways England have given a written undertaking (email 29th September) that they will clear the watercourse through the Abbas village area. All their highway drainages runs into the watercourse.
October 2021 : There was quite substantial flooding of the service station / garage forecourt in Abbas on 31st October 2021. A lot of mud and run off including many beet storks / roots appeared to come from Manor Farm. The Parish Council have asked Dorset Council's Flood Management Team to investigate fully..
Martinstown : All flood prevention matters and clearing in Martinstown parish area are now being managed by Martinstown Parish Council.
Flooding in Winterbourne Abbas - Sunday 31st October 2021
It appears that heavy rainfall overnight caused a build up of water in the fields in the valley north of Manor Farm. By early Sunday morning this had gathered a lot of mud and also numerous maize storks / roots all of which soon found its way down and out on to the A35. It is thought that the maize debris soon entangled and block drains and road gulleys causing the garage forecourt and surrounding area to be flooded to a depth of over a foot (300mm). The police had to shut the A35 through Abbas.
Dorset Council's Highway Team were engaged by Highways England and had the area cleared and the A35 open again by the afternoon. Our thanks goes to this team. Fortunately, the stream down through Steepleton had been cleared a couple of weeks before and was able to generally cope with the volume of water with a few minor floods on the road which soon receded. By Tuesday, the stream was back to its normal levels. The stream through Abbas was not really affected and levels remained low apart from the immediate area of the flood.
The Parish Council have taken the following action :
a) Requested that Dorset Council's Flood Management team carry out an urgent investigation of the causes and ensure that steps are taken to prevent a repeat of this incident. They have also been asked to look at the flood prevention proposals recently revised for the 33 house development on the Manor Farm site.
b) Highways England (who manage the A35) have been requested to urgently check and clear all their drains and road gulleys in addition to clearing the stream through Abbas village which they had already given a written undertaking to carry out.
They have also been asked to clear the highway drain channel that backs the houses in Steepleton Water. This is totally blocked and a lot of mud and water found its way into the back yards of these houses. This channel does not appear to be "fit for purpose" and they have been asked to urgently review and improve this.
Our local MP Chris Loader has offered assistance in chasing progress of the above requests.