Ten years ago, winter storms saw widespread flooding across Berkshire and Surrey, causing Thames Valley Police to declare a ‘major incident’ in East Berkshire. Rainfall over the winter was more than double the average for the season, while Southern England had the wettest January on record. The government allocated £2m for flood damage repairs, but this winter has seen more floods hit those still recovering from the property damage of 2014.
The 2014 Floods
In the winter of 2013/2014, Hurley saw excessive rainfall – over half the average rainfall for the entire year and over double the average amount for the season. Part of the Thames’ riverbank washed away, closing the stretch of the Thames Path for over six months. The flooding caused extensive property damage and distress among residents – Homes, businesses and shops were underwater, with the local cricket club pavilion under 2ft of water.
In February 2014, the government announced £2.1m in funding for repairs following flood damage. In November, work started on repairs along the Thames Path in Hurley, using £350,000 of the government funding. Given the wet weather, businesses were slow to recover. The Hurley Cricket Club pavilion took over two months to dry completely, opening just in time for the cricket season at the end of April.
The 2024 Floods
Only one week into the new year, Hurley saw further flooding. The Cricket Club saw additional property damage, with the pavilion under 2ft of water and the cricket ground completely covered. Due to the frequency of the flooding, many can no longer claim repair money through insurance, leaving them to foot the bill themselves.
Since January, the Thames Valley area has been issued multiple flood warnings as river levels are expected to rise, leaving low-lying land at risk of repeat flooding. The Met Office does not expect property flooding, but this is still worrying news for residents and business owners around the Thames Valley.
In Hurley, the overflow from the waterplane destroyed the interior of the cricket club and residential homes. The flood water travelled down the main roads and affected up to 15 homes, a pub and commercial offices.
Following a request from a resident, we conducted a site visit to survey the Flood Risk to properties in and around Hurley. The area suffered from some common issues, so here are some practical tips to reduce the impact of future flooding:
Often brooks have not been dredged or widened. This can cause bottlenecks that form natural dams of branches, twigs and sediment, raising the water level in certain areas. Maintenance and improvements to the infrastructure of the village could go a long way in easing the water level before becoming overgrown or blocked.
Investigate drainage & culverts
Drainage systems can become blocked over time. This could be storm drains, or from the culverts diverting water away from roads. By investigating the performance of these systems during dry periods, problem areas can be rectified before heavy rains can cause flooding.
Effective use of a Sluice System
A sluice system comprises movable barriers that open and close to control water levels and flow rates. In the specific case of Hurley, the barriers on River Thame were not deployed correctly, causing the river’s banks to overflow and overwhelm the 2 small brook rivers in the village.
Protect Buildings from Ground Water
In some instances, flood damage occurred because the water had risen through the ground and into the building from the surface of the floor. This is common in older constructed buildings, and during the survey, we saw several buildings with this form of damage. To prevent this, a paint lining could secure the interior of buildings.
Multiple Types of Flood Barrier
Most residents in Hurley had used sandbags to protect their front doors, but with the amount of flooding faced in recent years, additional barriers would be beneficial. Boxwall Flood barriers, Flood Cubes, OSMO flood sock barriers and Flowstop door barriers are the latest innovations in portable flood protection solutions beyond traditional barriers like sandbags.
These options rely on the cooperation between residents, local councils and businesses. Through effective communication of flood safety measures, the community can join together in reducing the devastating effects of major flooding incidents like these.