Flooding of Piddle Brook, Worcestershire

Flooding of Piddle Brook and Environs

Why are we worried about flooding of Piddle Brook and the proposed Chicken Broiler Unit on land adjacent to Frog Hall Bungalow?

Although the Environment Agency maps show the river flooding they are not necessarily an accurate picture of what happens on the ground.

In 1997, 2007 and 2012 flooding of Piddle Brook has been severe. Where once these would have been 1 in 100 to a 1000 year events they are occurring much more frequently.  According to the Environment Agency the effects of Climate Change need to be factored in to planning applications with an uplift of 20% for Commercial projects and 30% for residential.

One Resident's Experience of Piddle Brook Floods in 1997

On one evening during the 1997 flooding a resident of Naunton Beauchamp followed his normal route home along the A422 towards Worcester. Outside the Red Hart at Dormston his car was overwhelmed by the flood water and had to be abandoned. After drying out in the Red Hart (there is always a silver lining) he and a new found friend heading in the same direction tried to get to Naunton Beauchamp. The main road the A422 was impassable along that section. They managed to get through to Upton Snodsbury from a series of back roads from the north. The Moor End Road at the Libbery turn was totally impassable. The B4082 was flooded but passable. 

The Naunton Beauchamp resident was dropped off at the end of Main Street/B4082 to walk through to the village. In the dark he waded through the two and a half feet deep water, briefcase on head along the pavement trying to keep to the highest point of the road. The height of the flood was just below the parapet of the bridge. In the picture here it is shown in 2007 and is around two feet six inches less than the depth it was that night in 1997. 

Pictures of Flooding from 2007

Cottage closest to Piddle Brook Main Street Naunton Beauchamp

 A number of properties were flooded in 2007. Any additional arable land given up to buildings can have an effect on the flood plain. The concern of residents is that the already serious problem of localised flooding downstream of Froghall Farm is going to be exacerbated by developments that involve putting in concrete bases, particularly if planning approval is given for two units (possibly extending to 8 or 10 units) each measuring 122m x 25m.

Piddle Brook meadows by Naunton Beauchamp in flood 2007

The video link below is critical to understanding the issue of localised non-water course flooding from Cowsden and Upton Snodsbury over the fields at the Proposed Site. The field on the right shown in this footage is actually 5 metres higher than the Proposed Chicken Broiler Unit site!

This flooding is not shown on the Environment Agency maps. 

Important - watch this video! 
Link to Flickr Page of Video Footage of Flooding at Cowsden Road turning with B4082. 

Pictures of Flooding from 2008

It doesn't even have to be an exceptional year to have significant flooding in this area. Because it is so localised and can disperse relatively quickly (within a few days if there is no sustained rain and the land isn't saturated) it is only local residents who would be aware of this problem.  Unfortunately the Applicant of the Chicken Broiler Unit does not know the area and the Environment Agency flood maps only show river flooding.  

Link to pictures of 2008 flooding on Flickr

Video Footage showing Flooding of Piddle Brook at Seaford Lane Ford in November 2012. 

This was taken on Monday 26th November after the peak over the weekend when cars could not get out of Naunton Beauchamp according to residents who were in the village at the time.