Specialist unit in Aldbourne to stop 'revolting' sewer flooding

Oxford Street in the village of Aldbourne is particularly vulnerable to flooding

Emergency equipment has been installed to help stop a village's sewers overflowing and flooding the community.

Thames Water have put a filtration unit into place at Aldbourne in Wiltshire during the winter months.

The village is at the bottom of a chalk valley and groundwater rises when there is a wet season leading to overflowing sewers and flooding in the streets.

Flood warden and parish councillor Nick Josephy said when it happens, it is "really revolting".

"It normally rises after Christmas and this year it came up in November and that's a consequence of the very wet autumn and the high groundwater."

Flood warden Nick Josephy next to unit from Thames Water that is filtering water before it goes into the local water course

The flood warden explained that the geography cannot be changed so "there's no point in complaining about that."

Volunteers from the community help clear the Bourne, the local nearby stream, every autumn and they now want the council to improve the community's road gullies.

Wiltshire Council has told the BBC that it is sorry to hear about the situation for residents and that they are continuing to work with Thames Water.

In 2015, it worked with the Environment Agency on a scheme to help alleviate it and that there is a flood plan.

The council said it is investing an extra £333,000 each year until 2024/25 in addition to the £1.27m spent annually on emptying gullies.

It is hoped that measures can be put in place so the "whacking great unit" appears less

Mr Josephy said Thames Water are working on a long-term project for the sewers.

"I hope they will spend more money doing that so we have fewer instances of having to use that whacking great unit sitting there," he explained.

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