Swindon Borough Council met to discuss a report on flooding events in September and October 2023 this week.
By chance, it was just a few days after 44mm of rain fell on Friday, November 14, more than half of what would usually be expected for the whole of November (70mm).
Cabinet member for highways and the environment cllr Chris Watts said improvements made since 2023 held up: “The amount of rain that fell on Friday exceeded the amount that fell in October 2023.
“On Thursday, the protocol was put in place, officers were out to the areas highlighted in this report to check drains and trash gates and made sure we were prepared for what was to come the next day.”
One of the areas badly affected in the 2023 floods was Peregrine Close in Covingham, and Cllr Watts added: “The main concern in terms of property was Peregrine Close and it was very high – it got very close – but there was a good performance of the culvert under the A419.”
The councillor told members of the committee that he had visited Wroughton on the Friday evening, another area which had suffered in the past, and said the culverts and flood measures there also performed well, but added: “I would say it was probably at maximum capacity.”
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Cllr Watts said Pipers Way had been shut by flooding, and the run off from Victoria Road had affected Regent Circus.
Chairman of the committee, Councillor Dale Heenan, whose Covingham & Dorcan ward has often been affected, said: “The report into the events in Autumn 2023 came out nine months ago.
“And it says there has been no progress made in terms of communicating with residents. This has been done with other agencies, but not the public.
“And when Storm Claudia hit, again, there was no communication with ward members, the parish, the public.
“What can we do in the next weeks, now we are into storm season, what should we be doing to help residents prevent and cope with flooding?”
Head of operations, Simon Anthony, said: “The Environment Agency has identified the 1,500 houses most at risk of flooding in the borough and has written to them all, so there has been communication.
“But there is more to be done.”
