Motorists blatantly ignore warning signs not to drive through floods

The road is ‘blackspot’ for flooding every time the River Avon bursts its banks and drivers are frequently warned not to proceed if it is closed.

Following several days of heavy rainfall the adjoining fields flooded and the nearby roads were under several inches of water.

Drivers brave the flooded B3105 at Staverton on Sunday morning. Photo: Trevor Porter 69732-5 (Image: Trevor Porter)

At 11am on Sunday, Wiltshire Council officials closed the B3105 on the New Terrace causeway, and the B3106 cut through between Staverton and Holt.

The council said: “Due to heavy rain that came in over the weekend, the following roads are closed because of high river levels: Staverton Toll Gate Road, B4069 Sutton Benger, Lacock Bridge, Reybridge.

“We're hoping to reopen these roads soon, as the weather continues to improve.”

The River Avon rises at Staverton Bridge closing the B3105 road to Holt. Photo: Trevor Porter 69732-2 (Image: Trevor Porter)

But drivers could be seen blatantly ignoring the warning signs, even though floodgates prevented them from accessing the B3106 between Staverton and Holt.

They included one driver in a truck towing a caravan who was forced to turn back after encountering the flooded road on the causeway link to the B3107 Bradford on Avon to Holt road.

This caravaner ignores two road closures signs at Staverton due to the causeway flooded. Photo: Trevor Porter 69733-3 (Image: Trevor Porter)

The driver was forced to turn round and come back two minutes later. Photo: Trevor Porter 69733-4 (Image: Trevor Porter)

The B3105 reopened this morning but the floodgates on the B3106 remain closed.