THE River Avon at Melksham breached its banks today as floods left parts of the town under water.
The Melksham to Bradford road by West of Midlands Farmers was closed as the water spilled over from the Avon.
But drivers were this afternoon ignoring the closure signs and attempting to drive through the floodwater - which was at least two feet deep.
Even a Faresavers bus - perhaps anxious not to fall behind on the timetable - braved the floodwaters.
At one point there were up to five cars broken down at the entrance to Countrywide Farmers, with rescue trucks called to the scene.
In the town centre, the King George V playing fields were partly under water, with kids pulling up their trousers and paddling in the water in the play park, parts of which were completely deluged.
advertisement
The river Avon has flooded in the town centre, with the Millennium riverside walk impassable. The weir, by Cooper Avon Tires, has also vanished under the rising river levels.
To see pictures of the Melksham floods, click NEWS on the left hand panel of this page, then PICTURE GALLERIES and then select MELKSHAM FLOODS.
If you have pictures of flooding in your area email them to the Wiltshire Times on wtimes@newswilts.co.uk
Posted by: Tony Durant, Trowbridge on 5:37pm Sat 21 Jul 07
I drove back through bad floods in Calne yesterday. I drove a friends renault espace which is higher off the ground and so was able to drive through. Many others were stuck. I gave assitance to a few who needed to make calls/use the navigator/borrow things.
The weather is gettings so ridiculous and unpredictable now as not only do we need to travel with the obvious things such as water/drinks/food./b
lankets/torches/firs
t aid etc etc we now need inflatable rings/boats/lifejack
ets as we often have relatives children and our own dogs in one of the cars.
Its been terrible seeing people and pets have drowned in our own country on the news recently and we know very well just how bad climate change/bad weather is now.
I drove back through bad floods in Calne yesterday. I drove a friends renault espace which is higher off the ground and so was able to drive through. Many others were stuck. I gave assitance to a few who needed to make calls/use the navigator/borrow things.
The weather is gettings so ridiculous and unpredictable now as not only do we need to travel with the obvious things such as water/drinks/food./b
lankets/torches/firs
t aid etc etc we now need inflatable rings/boats/lifejack
ets as we often have relatives children and our own dogs in one of the cars.
Its been terrible seeing people and pets have drowned in our own country on the news recently and we know very well just how bad climate change/bad weather is now.
Posted by: ken land, melksham on 9:51pm Sun 22 Jul 07
i had to go to countrywide farmers today,the road was closed,i could not believe what i saw,one car was stuck in the middle of the water,three or four more were waiting to cme through,i hope the people who tried to get through and needed help to be towed out ,are charged for it ,and the insurance company does not pay them any thing,
i had to go to countrywide farmers today,the road was closed,i could not believe what i saw,one car was stuck in the middle of the water,three or four more were waiting to cme through,i hope the people who tried to get through and needed help to be towed out ,are charged for it ,and the insurance company does not pay them any thing,
Posted by: Public Spirit, Wiltshire on 9:54am Mon 23 Jul 07
A very harsh view, Ken. Surely at times of local disaster, people should help each other like Tony did. When there is a fire, we don't ask immediately 'who has been stupid enough to cause it?', we do our best to help and let the authorities deal with the cause.
No one trying to get through a flood is deliberately causing an obstruction. Some have better judgement than others and some are lucky to get through whilst others are not. Such a jugemental attitude is uncharitable and, worse, displays a complete lack of public spirit.
A very harsh view, Ken. Surely at times of local disaster, people should help each other like Tony did. When there is a fire, we don't ask immediately 'who has been stupid enough to cause it?', we do our best to help and let the authorities deal with the cause.
No one trying to get through a flood is deliberately causing an obstruction. Some have better judgement than others and some are lucky to get through whilst others are not. Such a jugemental attitude is uncharitable and, worse, displays a complete lack of public spirit.
Posted by: pinkpanther, Trow on 3:38pm Mon 23 Jul 07
This road on Saturday as with the lower at Staverton had signs 'Road Closed' and cones across but cars were still ignoring these. One estate I saw at Staverton was reversing back towards the bridge after failing to get through. Idiots yes. The signs are put in place for a reason.
This road on Saturday as with the lower at Staverton had signs 'Road Closed' and cones across but cars were still ignoring these. One estate I saw at Staverton was reversing back towards the bridge after failing to get through. Idiots yes. The signs are put in place for a reason.
Posted by: ken land, melksham on 6:21pm Mon 23 Jul 07
in reply to public spirit,what is it the drivers dont understand,about a sign that says road closed,the emergency services have enough to do with having to rescue these idiots,well said pinkpanther
in reply to public spirit,what is it the drivers dont understand,about a sign that says road closed,the emergency services have enough to do with having to rescue these idiots,well said pinkpanther
Posted by: walter, wilshur on 7:15am Wed 25 Jul 07
T'aint nowt new. When Oi were a nipper in Melksham, the Avon used to flood the roads all round, from the river to the entrance to the "Rubber" and the Bradford road. Do get a bit blown up, Oi reckon. A couple o' feet of water and the country stops, bit like 2 inches of snow. Get yer wellies on and get on with it, Oi say.
T'aint nowt new. When Oi were a nipper in Melksham, the Avon used to flood the roads all round, from the river to the entrance to the "Rubber" and the Bradford road. Do get a bit blown up, Oi reckon. A couple o' feet of water and the country stops, bit like 2 inches of snow. Get yer wellies on and get on with it, Oi say.
Posted by: Public Spirit, Wiltshire on 8:34pm Thu 26 Jul 07
Pinkpanther and Ken are just the types to laugh if a neighbour used a defective ladder to paint from and fell. "Silly person" I hear them say.."I would have made sure my ladder was safe first."
Thank the Lord, most of us would have given what first aid we could and called an ambulance. Public spirit is about being a good neighbour not a judgemental one. People can be daft and do silly things but not the two old muppets in the gallery, they are the perfect ones who just mock the rest of us, who are occasionally rash.
Did you check if there was a child trapped in the car in the water or do children with rash parents deserve to drown?
Oh to be perfect like you, Pinky and Ken, and never have missed a warning sign on the road.
Pinkpanther and Ken are just the types to laugh if a neighbour used a defective ladder to paint from and fell. "Silly person" I hear them say.."I would have made sure my ladder was safe first."
Thank the Lord, most of us would have given what first aid we could and called an ambulance. Public spirit is about being a good neighbour not a judgemental one. People can be daft and do silly things but not the two old muppets in the gallery, they are the perfect ones who just mock the rest of us, who are occasionally rash.
Did you check if there was a child trapped in the car in the water or do children with rash parents deserve to drown?
Oh to be perfect like you, Pinky and Ken, and never have missed a warning sign on the road.
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
Print
Email this
Comment
