COLLINGBOURNE DUCIS FLOOD PLAN

1. Objectives:
1.1 Given the history of irregular groundwater flooding and the rare instances of fluvial flooding (River Bourne) in the Parish there is a need for procedures to be in place to alert at risk residents of the likely effects of any such flooding.
1.2 To act on information received from the Environment Agency with regard to potential flooding in the Parish.
1.3 To minimise the risk of damage to property, restrictions on communication and transport and ultimately risk to life particularly where residents are aged or infirm.
   
2. Flood Warnings:
2.1 Details of Flood Warning provision for Groundwater in the parish will be forwarded by the Environment Agency, Blandford, Dorset (01258456080) to the village Flood Wardens:-
Simon Gilford 01264 850575
Tony Still 01264 850483
In the event of a Warden not being contactable then the Environment Agency will advise the Parish Clerk: Mr. Philip Gill 01264 398534
2.2 Such warnings will be based on the established three warning codes, namely Flood Alert, Flood Warning and Severe Flood Warning.
2.3 The Flood Wardens in conjunction with the Parish Council will liase with Wiltshire Council and the Environment Agency to ensure that all relevant general management works on known problem areas are carried out annually on a timely basis.
2.4 In view of the fact that the at risk areas in the Parish are largely limited and localised along the Bourne Valley, warnings will be given to residents by the Flood Wardens on a house to house or telephone basis.  Initial flood awareness will be publicised on the Village Notice Board and through articles in the November and December editions of the magazine “The Courier” which is circulated to every property in the Parish.
   
3. Flooding Event:
3.1 Groundwater is the most common and likely cause of flooding problems in the Parish.
3.2 Fluvial flooding from the River Bourne is extremely unlikely, although not impossible if river levels were ever to come up to the bridges on the High Street or overflow the banks to the south of the A338/A346 junction on Ludgershall Road.
   
4. Level of response/priorities:
4.1 Householders should be aware that it is their responsibility to protect their property from flooding. Wiltshire Council may, if resources allow, provide a limited supply of sand or gel bags to domestic properties, properties that have been flooded or are in imminent danger of flooding. However, the ability of Wiltshire Council to respond in flooding emergencies will be affected by priorities for the elderly or infirm and the protection of commercial properties to prevent environmental pollution.
4.2 During the danger periods (Flood Alert and Flood Warnings) there will be regular checks made for signs of imminent flooding, both fluvial and groundwater.
4.3 The Police and Wiltshire Highways Dept. will be contacted for liaison on warning signs for the road.
4.4 The Wardens will monitor the waste water situation in the flood risk areas and will liase with Wessex Water concerning any need for emergency pumping.
   
5. Authorities involved for Collingbourne Ducis:
 
(a) Environment Agency (Blandford)
(b) Wiltshire Council
(c) Collingbourne Ducis Parish Council
(d) Emergency Service – Police, Fire
(e) Wessex Water
(f) Scottish and Southern Electricity
(g) Property owners in Village  * Although not an authority they are listed as they have a direct responsibility to protect their own property.
  Contact numbers for the above where applicable will be found under section 7 (Contacts and communication Links).
   
6. Actions:
  The following is a summary of the principal responsibilities and actions of each authority listed under the above section 5. In all cases the Flood Wardens will liase with these various authorities as and when deemed necessary.
 
6.1 Environment Agency.
(a) Issue flood warnings
(b) Receive and record details of all flood events
(c) Monitor and advise other organisations
(d) Respond to pollution incidents
   
 
6.2 Wiltshire Council
(a) Co-ordinate emergency arrangements in the area
(b) Flood warning dissemination (by local agreement with Environment Agency.)
(c) Clear blocked water courses etc. (Land drainage act powers)
(d) Emergency assistance- may provide sand or gel bags. (s138Iga 1972)
(e) Maintain safe conditions on the roads
(f) Put flood warnings on the highway
(g) Organise road closures and diversions
(h) Clear blocked road channels and gully gratings – street cleaning
(i) Deal with environmental health issuessuch as pollution
(j) Emergency planning support groups
(k) May take action to protect property from flooding by water from the highway where there is a failure in the highway drainage system
   
 
6.3 Collingbourne Ducis Parish Council
(a) Flood warning dissemination (through Environment Agency)
(b) Maintain records of all flooding events in the village
(c) Ensure that all gulleys and ditches on parish land are kept free and running
   
 
6.4 Emergency Services
(a) Rescue
(b) Respond to all emergency incidents as required
(c) Assist the residents where a need is identified and the use of fire service personnel and equipment is relevant
   
 
6.5 Wessex Water
(a) Emergency overpumping or tinkering at pumping stations
(b) Clearing blockages in public sewers and outfall grills
(c) Repairing burst sewage and water pumping mains
(d) May take action to protect property from flooding by water from the public water mains or discharges from the public sewerage systems
(e) Provision of portable toilets in some cases
   
 
6.6 Scottish & Southern Electricity and B.T.
(a) Attend to emergencies relating to their service at properties putting life at risk as a result of flooding
(b) Attend to flooding emergencies at their own installations
   
 
6.7 Property Owners*
(a) Move to a safe place if life is at risk
(b) Prevent water from entering property if possible
(c) Switch off electricity at mains
(d) Move valuables above floor levels liable to be flooded
   
7. Contacts and Communication Links:
 
Organisation Tel. No. Office hours Tel. No. Out of hours Fax No

Environment Agency

01258 483442 For Flood Wardens only 01258 455998
Floodline 0845 988 1188 0845 988 1188  
       
S. Gilford (Warden)
T.Still (Warden)
 - 
01264 850483		 01264 850575
01264 850483		  
P. Gill
(Parish Clerk)		 01264 398534    
       
Wiltshire Council
Clarence		 0800 23 23 23 01722 413834  
Wiltshire Council
Highways		 0300 456 0100 01722 413834  
Wiltshire Council
Environmental health		 0300 456 0100 0845 0568035  
Wiltshire Council
Dangerous Structures		 0300 456 0100 0845 0568035  
       
Wessex Water 0845 6004600 0845 6004600  
Scottish & Southern Electricity 0845 7708090 0845 7708090  
       
B.T. 0800 800 151 0800 800 151  
Fire Service 01380 723601 999 Fire  
Police 0845 4087000 999 Police  
   
8. Follow up action:
8.1 The flood wardens will maintain a Log Book to record all flooding incidents with times, dates, details of all properties and highways effected together with a record of actions taken.
8.2 The Parish Clerk will hold all annual records and will pass on relevant information to the Environment Agency.
8.3 The flood wardens will analyse the flooding events and try to identify any problems experienced in order to try to seek solutions.
8.4 In the light of the previous year's experiences the flood wardens may, in conjunction with the Parish Council, call a meeting with representatives of Wiltshire Council, the Environment Agency and Wessex Water in the early autumn. This meeting will provide an update on the situation and discuss any further necessary prevention or maintenance works to be undertaken.
8.5 The Parish flood plan will itself be reviewed and updated if necessary on an annual basis.
   
   
September 2011.
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