If you’re in a location potentially at risk of flooding then make sure you’re familiar with the guidance and information at https://www.cotswold.gov.uk/environment/flooding/ . The before, during and after guide from the Environment Agency is a handy reference https://www.cotswold.gov.uk/…/preparing-your-home-for…

(Update: Latest updates this morning from residents adjacent the river indicate that levels have dropped a little overnight.)

Last night various Fairford Town Councillors, residents and myself had a look around the known warning areas for high river levels (path above/below Dilys Bridge, road at Mill Bridge, Waterloo Brook etc.). They are all high but not yet at the levels where we’d expect property flooding. There is water at the bottom of the long gardens in Courtbrook, adjacent the river, but that looks “normal” for the current river level.

Levels are a little higher than they were in February 2020 and similar to levels in 2013 but all the various flood defences seem to be working as intended – particularly the bund and water meadow between the bridges. Water levels, as per the EA gauge on the river are fairly stable at the minute. A Courtbrook resident was also checking levels in the water water at the bottom of their garden and that was stable for the latter part of yesterday.

Levels at Bibury (upstream of Fairford) seem stable. The Environment Agency (EA) gauge at Fosse Bridge (upstream of Bibury) isn’t working so unfortunately we can’t correlate the Bibury reading with that one but someone from CDC is going to check the level manually this morning.

The various landowners who have river responsibilities upstream of Fairford (notably the Ernest Cook Trust) are doing what they can to help control levels and have been doing that for a few days now.

The weather forecast has changed to more wet (snow/sleet) weather than originally expected today. It may or may not further raise the river level much, depending on the amount, but it will likely keep the river higher for longer.

CDC flood response has used up 1000 bags in the last 48 hours but we’ve been restocking and will be helping to top up depleted town and parish council stocks in areas of need. Fairford Town Council has been preparing what stocks it does have already to make sure bags on hand if they are needed – but availability of bags is always limited so they will only go out to locations where really needed, when needed. The CDC/Ubico flood response team is also getting more pumps in as we’ve needing to do a lot of pumping the last three days.

With high ground water levels another concern will be sewer flooding – that has become a significant issue over the last 36 hours in the lower Churn valley in particular. I’d encourage people to keep an eye on that, though I’m not aware of significant issues or leakage anywhere (yet anyway) in Fairford.

If you’re in an area at risk, particularly if you’ve flooded again since 2007, then please make sure you have assessed your situation and made preparations. Be ready to respond to any changes that may happen.

Read the guidance. Be prepared. Stay safe.

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