The Bodenham Flood Protection Group (BFPG) Advice Hub is designed to collate information that may be of help in mitigating your property against flood risk. If what you are looking for is not here, please contact the Secretary for specific advice.
Flood Risk
Although the Group can often provide informal advice about the risk of flooding to particular parts of the Parish based on their own experience and local knowledge, residents should never rely solely on this and the best sources of information are the maps provided by the Environment Agency (EA) on the Government web-pages. These maps will provide you with indications of the risk. Use the drop-down menu on the page to select either fluvial (river) or surface risk. You can then zoom in or out to a particular area.
When heavy rainfall is forecast or in the process of happening, members of the Bodenham Flood Protection Group (BFPG) will try to monitor the various tools available such as river gauges, Environment Agency (EA) and Met Office information. When flooding of Bodenham roads is imminent, the Group then updates the Bodenham Neighbourhood Watch Facebook and Bodenham Next Door pages, as well as the Bodenham Parish Web-site, with flood related information.
We can, however, only do so much. We rely on residents to tell us of any potential issues around the village to enable us to try and provide a reasonable service; however, please remember this is a voluntary service and it is also up to residents to monitor and check the sites themselves. All the links found here in the Advice Hub, are up to date to the best of our knowledge but if you do find any broken links, please report them to to the Secretary.
General Guidance on Flooding and Flood Protection
There is a great deal of information available on flooding – how to prepare for it, where to report it, what to do during it, what to do afterwards. Rather than attempt to replicate all that here, we suggest that you start by looking at the Government’s advice which you can find here. The key is BE PREPARED. Do not put off taking flood precautions until there actually is a flood – it is then too late!
Flood Warnings
The Environment Agency’s Flood Warning Information Service website here provides a flood warning system which shows all the warnings and alerts in force at any one time. You can use this to look for warnings both locally in Herefordshire and across the whole of England and Wales. Click on the ‘View the latest river and sea levels near you’ and from there you can input a post code or general area which will take you to the maps. Zoom in to see if there is a current flood alert or warning, you will see the relevant triangular sign if there is an alert in place. Clicking on that will give you the alert or warning itself.
You can also sign up to receive free flood warnings by phone, e-mail or text message by going to the sign up pages on the Government web site or by calling the 24-hour Floodline number 0345-988 1188.
In addition, you can check the local situation in Herefordshire in a number of ways, for example:
By checking the Met Office weather forecast for the County.
By calling the 24-hour Floodline 0345-988 1188 mentioned above – this provides information on current flood warnings in force.
By checking the water level of the River Lugg upstream from Bodenham at Butts Bridge in Leominster. This gives a good indication of the likelihood of flooding by the river here in Bodenham. You can see updates on the state of the river at the River Levels UK web-site Butts Bridge, River Levels UK or at the EA flood warning information service Butts Bridge, EA.
The Gaugemap website is also a useful site.
By looking up the list of road closures in Herefordshire maintained by Herefordshire Council.
Riparian Responsibilities
The owner of land or property through which a river, stream or watercourse pass is known as a riparian owner and has certain legal responsibilities. In addition, where a watercourse forms a boundary with a property it is likely that the adjacent landowner has riparian responsibilities up to the centre line of the watercourse.
Given that in Herefordshire, as elsewhere, riparian owners have a really important part to play in preventing flooding, all residents, businesses and landowners are encouraged to read the information leaflet on ditch and drainage responsibilities at Ditches and Drainage guidance so that they can ensure they are aware of their riparian responsibilities. Environment Agency guidance called “Owning a Watercourse”, is also a useful leaflet, and can be found at Owning a Watercourse.
Sandbags and Flood Barriers
Sandbags are no real substitute for proper flood protective measures, but if you do use sandbags (whether or not they are provided by the BFPG), they should be stored in the dry as they deteriorate at a very fast rate if left outside for long periods because they are bio-degradable.
If you have flood barriers, check the condition of the rubber seals as these have been proven to perish/come unstuck and check the operation of airbrick covers. If your property was issued with flood barriers you are responsible for their upkeep or, where necessary, their replacement.
For sandbags or barriers, carry out regular checks on their condition, to ensure that what you have is “fit for purpose”. This will also help to minimise the workload put on the flood group at a time of emergency. If considering new barriers, check that any new products you are buying conform to the latest specification: BSI (British Standard Institute): October 1st 2019, BS 851188 BS 851188:2019 replaced the previous publicly-available specification for flood-protection products and systems, PAS 1188.
Below is some information on various protection businesses that you may find helpful.
Floodgate:
Manufacture inwardly opening door protection, wider aperture protection and airbrick protection
https://floodgate.ltd.uk/store/
Floodgate Limited
49/51 Lammas Street
Carmarthen
Wales
SA31 3AL
Tel:+44 (0)1267 23 42 05
Email: office@floodgate.ltd.uk
Flood Ark:
Manufacture lightweight easy to assemble flood boards that cater for doors (including outward opening) patio doors, garage doors & airbricks
Flood Ark Limited
Head Office
The Forge, The Street,
Lyng,
Norwich
NR9 5QZ
Tel:+44 (0) 1603 879 977
Email: info@floodark.com
Floodshield:
Products for both wooden & UPVC doors & airbrick covers
Floodshield Limited
Unit B2 Lower Westfield House
Broad Lane
Leeds
LS13 3HA
Tel:+44 (0) 845 862 4010
Email: info@floodshield.com
Flood Protection Solutions:
Possible repair of flood barriers made by UK Flood Barriers Ltd & Flood Angel
Servicing & Repairs
We are able to arrange servicing and repairs of flood barriers and doors. Unfortunately, there is a cost involved as the manufacturer’s warranty no longer exists. Please contact us for a quote. Our network of highly trained fitters can help resolve any issues promptly.
https://www.floodprotectionsolutions.co.uk/uk-flood-barriers/
Flood Protection Solutions
Ash House
Private Road No.8
Colwick Industrial Estate
Nottingham
NG4 2JX
Tel: 0115 987 0358
Email: ENQUIRIES@FLOODPROTECTIONSOLUTIONS.CO.UK
Further advice and information may be found at a number of other sites, some of which have been linked below:
Mary Dhonau’s web site, Mary worked closely with the flood group after the 2007 floods.
Herefordshire County Council National Flood Forum
https://nationalfloodforum.org.uk/
The Flood Hub (a local Northwest site but has some very useful information)
(Last updated June 2021)