Residents fear flooding is becoming more frequent

Deborah James said she loved her home too much to sell it

Residents and business owners fear flooding of their properties will only get worse, as they deal with the aftermath of Storm Henk.

High winds and torrential rain have caused disruption in Wiltshire, with a number of areas flooded.

Debora James, who lives in Castle Combe, said she returned home earlier to find her floor was soaked.

“It happened last January but I was told it was a once in a lifetime thing,” she said.

Deborah James returned home to find her floor was soaked

“I feel OK, it could be worse, I have lovely friends and support in the village. We soldier on.

“I had thoughts of selling the cottage, but I probably won’t because I love it so much,” she added.

Fred Winup, chairman of Castle Combe Parish Council, has lived in the village for 30 years.

“We seem to be flooding more often than we have been in the past. It’s nature running its course,” he said.

“We seem to be flooding more often than we have been in the past,” Mr Winup said

He added the council offered sandbags, flood gates and flood lights to residents.

And since flooding hit in 2022, the council had also bought a puddle pump, which it has leant to Ms James.

“The pump is actually pretty great, we’re relying on it. It is working, but the water comes up pretty quickly,” Ms James said.

She added she would be going to Barbados when the flooding was over, while a dehumidifier dried her cottage.

Castle Combe Parish Council offers sandbags, flood gates and flood lights to residents

Commenting on England’s future flood risk in 2023, a spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “Around 5.5 million homes and businesses in England are at risk of flooding and climate change is only increasing the dangers.

“It is clear we are already seeing the impacts of the climate crisis around the world and in the UK through wetter winters and hotter, drier summers.”

In Bradford-on-Avon, Scott Wheeler, founder of restaurant Feast Brothers, is worried the floods will affect his business.

He said: “The floods could be detrimental to our business. If the water comes up, we’re in real trouble.

“We hope for the best, keep our barriers up and pray it goes down.”

Mr Wheeler said he would like defence flood barriers to be installed by the Avon, but temporary barriers which had been put in place were removed in October 2022.

“If the water comes up, we’re in real trouble,” Mr Wheeler said

A spokesperson for Bradford on Avon Town Council said: “We’re anxious that for the second year running, the Environment Agency hasn’t put any measures in place that could help protect the town.

“When the town does flood, it’s obviously very worrying and disruptive to residents and businesses.

“We remain hopeful that the Environment Agency will be able to install a new flood defence scheme in the future.”

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “A national review identified a potential risk where too much water pressing against the barriers could shift them backwards, trapping and harming anyone behind them.

“Businesses and people living in this area have also installed their own measures to prevent flood water from entering which offer a higher standard of protection than the barriers.”

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