Water, Water Everywhere But River Not On Flood Alert

Published on: 22 Dec, 2012
Updated on: 22 Dec, 2012

Despite there being scores of flood warnings and alerts across the UK, the River Wey in Guildford does not appear to be affected at the moment (Saturday, December 22).

Water meadows viewed from Clay Lane, Jacobs Well.

However, meadows beside the River Wey at Burpham and near Shalford are filling up with water due to the recent heavy rainfall. There is also a good deal of surface water on roads close to the river and the meadows, so motorists should take extra care when driving.

Flooded water meadows at Broadford near Shalford.

Lengthsmen on the National Trust-owned River Wey Navigations have been opening weirs and lock gates to ensure the flow of water is unheeded so as to prevent flooding in Guildford.

As part of the flood managment on the River Wey Navigations the water level at the cut here at Stoke Bridges is remarkably low. Note the water on the road – a spot that regularly floods.

Although the water meadows are saturated (doing their natural job), it is noticable that water levels on parts of the artificial navigation, near Stoke Bridges in the Woking Road area for example, were, by late afternoon Saturday, very low indeed. The flood management plan means it is necessary to make the level here downstream of the town sufficiently low to protect reaches higher up.

Cows in a field near Broadford, Shalford.

RSPCA officers were called to a flooded field in Shalford on Friday, where a herd of cows were stranded. After contacting the cattle’s owner, it is believed they were due be led to a drier field.

Eagle Radio has reported that there are eight flood alerts across Surrey and Hampshire today as the UK braces itself for a rainy Christmas.

The Environment Agency issued 290 flood alerts across the UK on Saturday morning, with four severe warnings affecting Devon and Cornwall.

In Surrey and Hampshire the Hoe Stream in Woking, the River Blackwater from Aldershot to Farnborough, the Upper River Wey from Alton to Peasmarsh, Cranleigh Waters and Chertsey Bourne, and the Thames at Sunbury are all on alert. The Thames at Shepperton and at Molesey also have flood alerts.