'Flood fears mean I can't sleep when it's raining'

Caroline and Chris Walker have only just recovered from the flooding in October 2023

A woman whose house has flooded twice in just over a year says the stress has made her unwell.

Caroline and Chris Walker's house in Dauntsey, Wiltshire, flooded in October 2023, with the water causing damage again on Sunday during Storm Bert.

"I've lost all my hair this year. I have trouble sleeping when it's raining heavily - I'm constantly checking the river levels and the weather forecast," said Mrs Walker.

Elsewhere in the county, one town councillor says he feels his area was left to "fend for itself" as the storm hit.

"It's very demoralising," Mr Walker said. "We spent three months living upstairs while the place dried out the first time and it was another three or four months until the house was put right.

"We had literally just finished the last bit of work in the conservatory and it's the same sort of story, with no indication it's going to happen again either."

Mrs Walker added: "It's hard to feel positive to be honest. I can't think about the future at the moment, I'm dealing with what's happening now."

'I've had no life'

Their house was one of 12 in the village that flooded during Storm Bert.

Jacque Bailey, whose house has been flooded three times since 2007, said the floods have brought "total devastation" to her life.

She said: "Your life stops - I've not had a life now for over 12 months. I've not even been able to live here for the first eight to 10 months.

"It's horrible, it's just an indescribable feeling. It really truly is."

Some residents in the village say a lack of maintenance on riverways, and the nearby M4, are to blame for the flooding.

Jacque Bailey said flooding in Dauntsey for a second time in the last year has been "horrible"

Alana Walch is the head teacher of Brinkworth Earl Danby’s C of E Primary School in Dauntsey.

Flood defences have been installed at all the doors at the school, which will be used in the event of more heavy rain.

She said she and many families are "worried" that flooding will turn in to an annual occurrence, and nothing will be done by authorities to prevent it.

"Last year I was panicking every time it rained after the flood, so I think this year I will be again," she said.

Head teacher Alana Walch says she is "worried" about future flooding

A spokesperson from the National Highways said: “We are aware of issues with flooding in the Dauntsey area and are considering all options to remedy the situation, including a scheme to make capacity improvements to the Church Lane overbridge culvert south of the M4.

“All culverts in the area are regularly inspected to ensure there is no debris stopping the flow of water.

"However, the recent spate of severe weather saw flooding across the region. We will continue to monitor and mitigate the situation as best as we can until we can implement a permanent solution.”

Residents 'still waiting'

Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire was also flooded during Storm Bert, with the town "pulling together" to clear up the damage.

Wiltshire council cabinet member Nick Holder told BBC Radio Wiltshire temporary flood barriers were removed by the Environment Agency with "no alternative solution" in October 2022.

An Environment Agency (EA) spokesperson said the temporary flood barriers were removed because they could no longer be used without risk of harming someone.

Mr Holder said the EA "promised" they'd return to the town with a viable solution but residents are "still waiting for it".

"Saying that, businesses and residents have become more resilient, it's probably because they've become more accustomed to it.

"They're shrugging their shoulders that anything’s going to be done," he added.

"I want to reiterate, we continue to work with them [The EA]. We continue to press them."

Jack Vittles, mayor of Bradford-on-Avon, told BBC Wiltshire the flooding had reached "record levels"

Mayor of Bradford-on-Avon Jack Vittles said the flooding had reached "record levels".

"It was over three and a half metres on Monday evening - it's the worst we've ever seen," he said. "The devastation across the town is catastrophic".

Mr Vittles said there was a need for more support from the EA going forward.

He said: "They say they have a strategy and flood management plan in the works of Bradford on Avon.

"I haven't seen that, and I'm desperate to see it."

Town Bridge in Bradford-on-Avon is now open after it closed due to the flooding

"We do have a meeting now scheduled with the Environment Agency next week along with our local MP which is great, but obviously it would have been great before this massive flood.

"Lets be frank, this is going to happen again and again in Bradford," Mr Vittles added.

An EA spokesperson said it is "committed" to working with its partners to develop a flood risk management scheme in Bradford on Avon.

"As we review all available options any scheme would be dependent upon securing the necessary funding," they said.

"This was a significant issue previously, and one we will need to resolve. We will communicate the findings with the community as soon as we have a way forward.

“Flooding is a natural occurrence, and we cannot eliminate the risk of all flooding.

"Our National Flood Risk Strategy calls for the nation to embrace a broad range of resilience actions where there is a risk."

Councillor Nick Holder said grants for people affected by the floods in Bradford-on-Avon will be distributed from central government