Wiltshire flooding: Council leader says 'worst he's ever seen'

Bradford on Avon is seeing water levels dropped after the heavy downpours on Friday

A council leader says last week's flooding is "worse than anything I have ever seen".

Wiltshire Council leader Richard Clewer also warned that the flooding seen on Friday will become more commonplace with climate change.

He has urged a review of government planning policy on where houses are built on floodplains.

Wiltshire and Gloucestershire were among areas hit by downpours with flood warnings still in place today.

Communities in the west of England have been working together to clean up after the flood water forced residents into rest centres and closed roads and railways.

Gloucestershire Highways has confirmed the A38 at Longford has reopened, but the A417 at Maisemore is likely to remain closed for a couple more days as River Severn levels drop slowly.

Reflecting on the flooding, Conservative councillor Richard Clewer said: "The state of the roads, the rivers running down country roads was worse than anything I've ever seen".

He added the authority has had confirmed reports of around 30 properties and businesses flooded, the council could offer financial support.

"If you have had flooding in your house, and it does need to be flooding of a house or business not water in a garden or external garage, please if you get in touch with us there is support available," Mr Clewer said.

Lottage Road in Aldbourne is still experiencing a lot of flood water

Tessa Berisha, who runs the post office in Aldbourne, saw the building flood on Friday and said today's M4 closure is causing "another huge event" due the spill off of traffic diverting through the flood water.

She told BBC Radio Wiltshire: "It is chaos in the village this morning. I cannot see it changing despite the last couple of days being a lot drier.

"This might be for a while, we are certainly trying to think of ways to manage it."

She added the local community has supported her over the weekend to help pump water out of the post office.

Mr Trimble says Bradford on Avon could "do with a lot more help"

Elsewhere in Wiltshire, Marlborough fire station also had to close and relocate to a temporary base after it was flooded.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it has relocated a fire engine to another location in the town.

In Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, water levels are starting to look normal on the River Avon in the town centre which experienced heavy flooding on Friday.

But the town's temporary flood barriers were taken out of use last year sparking concern among locals.

Environment Agency Ian Withers told the BBC: "There is a strong argument for why those temporary barriers were not the right solution for the town.

"There was a safety issue with them and it was a far worst prospect to have them in place and fail than to use them. Now there is a longer term plan for Bradford on Avon and that needs to be fully funded."

Wiltshire Councillor Tim Trimble said although Bradford on Avon is "getting back on its feet", it could "do with a lot more help".

"They can deal with it but it is still a huge disruption to their businesses, especially when you have got the cost of living crisis, rising energy costs.

"They are struggling all the way along and now they get this as well. They need more help, frankly," he said.

Follow BBC West on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: [e-mail]