Some people may deny the effects of climate change, but for residents of Wiltshire, particularly Marlborough, the ramifications of more regular severe weather events have never been so clear.

 

When, in January 2024, Storm Henk brought rain in unprecedented levels, it led to widespread flooding and devastating consequences for residents and businesses alike. 

Storm Henk was already the eighth named storm to hit the UK in winter 2023/24, and a mild and wet winter contributed to the significant flooding problems. 

The Met Office states that between October 2023 and January 2024, parts of Britain received more than 150% of the 1991-2020 long term average rainfall for those 4 months.

 

In Marlborough, this was the worst flooding almost anyone could recall. 

According to Marlborough News, the only memory of a similar circumstance was from Muriel Cobern, when in 1947, ‘a sudden rise in temperature at the beginning of March’ melted the heavy winter snow leading to knee-deep flooding. 

 

This year, the flooding was ‘directly linked to the river Kennet’ said the former Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Flooding Cllr Caroline Thomas. Many houses found water unexpectedly rising from the floor, as opposed to through the doors, due to the layers of rock beneath the ground withholding lots of water from the winter. It was due to the water level of the ground that when more rain fell in January, the flood very rapidly became overwhelming. 

 

Amidst the devastation, residents said that everyone from the community came together in this difficult time, specifically to help with evacuations and clear up.

 

Going forward, home and business owners are advised to have insurance if they don’t already, and certain residents of Marlborough can apply for Government funding to aid the recovery of land, property or businesses. 

 

Wiltshire Council’s main responsibility for managing flooding is taking care of major roads, and Cllr Thomas stated that ‘Over the financial years 2022/23 to 2025/26 the council committed an extra £1m to fund more drain and ditch clearing.’ They have also committed an extra £10m to spend on highway maintenance to reduce the water damage created on busy roads. 

Wiltshire Council also offers training and basic equipment for towns at risk of flooding and advises them to put in place an emergency response plan. As well as this, one resident of Marlborough suggests the use of anti-flood airbricks, meaning water cannot flood the underfloor of a building.

 

With warmer and wetter winters in sight, it is sadly likely that extreme floods such as this could happen more often.