Floodwaters Recede: Now Guildford Takes Stock of the Damage

Published on: 26 Dec, 2013
Updated on: 27 Dec, 2013

With the floodwaters having receded, Boxing Day has seen people taking stock of damage to their properties, with others simply sightseeing.

Rowing boat on the towpath at Millmead Lock.

Meanwhile at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, the show goes on this afternoon as the panto resumes its run despite part of the building being flooded.

People stand on the Town Bridge looking towards Millmead.

In Mary Road this morning (December 26) residents spoke of the events that unfolded on Christmas Eve afternoon after the River Wey, that is close by, burst its banks.

River water flowed into drains near premises behind the houses on the west side of Mary Road, soon reappearing through the grilles of drains in the road itself.

It was not long before parts of the cambered road was under a foot or so of water. As the water rose it began to spread towards the houses’ front gardens.

Sandbags in front of a house in Mary Road.

Residents say that it appears that as Guildford town centre became gridlocked with traffic, motorists were using Mary Road as a ‘rat run’. Some householders went out into the road, not only to warn drivers of the rising floodwaters, but to indicate to them to slow down as the wash their vehicles were making was lapping into front gardens and towards the houses themselves.

Mary Road, Guildford, now the water has receded – but someone has left their wellies behind!

One resident screwed a piece of board across his front door and used sealant in an attempt to stop water seeping in.  He said the sandbags around his property were delivered by Guildford Boorugh Council at about 9pm on Christmas Eve.

It appears that water has come into to some houses, but the extent of the damage is still being assessed.

River water seeped  into the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre resulting in its Christmas Eve production of Cinderalla being cancelled. But it was back on with the show on Boxing Day afternoon!

The water in the foyer has been about four inches deep. Staff went in on Christmas Day and helped get everything ready to welcome theatre-goers today. Water in the basement was being pumped out this morning. The orchestra pit is too wet for the band, so they will play to one side of the stage.

Eagle radio’s Peter Gordon, who is starring in the panto, has been tweeting about the theatre and its flooding. One read: “Great atmosphere @YvonneArnaud as director @GerryTebbutt speaks to the audience ahead of first show.”

The radio station continues to update listeners with flood alert information, with more details and pictures of flooding across Surrey and Hampshire on its website.

Debris lays against the footbridge at Millmead.

BBC Radio Surrey is broadcasting the latest on the weather we can expect.

The Get Surrey website of TrinityMirror Southern has remained largely silent since it posted on its Facebook page on Christmas Eve afternoon: “That’s all from us guys, Merry Christmas!!”

The stuff that Guildford gets it name from! ‘Golden’ sand washed on to the bank beside the Odeon cinema in Bedford Road.

View towards the river and it looks like a sandy beach washed by the waves.

Submerged boat in Millmead Lock.

Debris in Millmead Lock.

The water that was several feet deep in the car park at Millmead has now gone.

The Met Office is warning of another storm coming in from the Atlantic and expected to hit the UK on Thursday night into Friday.

Up to an inch (2.5cm) of rain and gusts of up to 70mph are predicted to affect all parts of the UK except for the East Midlands and East Anglia.

Keep checking The Guildford Dragon NEWS for information updates.

As of midday on Boxing Day the river, as seen from the Town Bridge,

Met Office website.

Environment Agency website.

Flood information issued by Guildford Borough Council on its website.

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