The Environment Agency has warned that flooding in Wiltshire is only likely to increase in coming years, as the climate crisis worsens.
Wiltshire saw first-hand the devastation caused by flooding when Storm Bert wreaked havoc across the county on Sunday, November 24, leaving towns submerged under water.
Several businesses were forced to close after being left several feet deep in flood water, and main roads across the county were closed off leaving towns and villages isolated.
Bradford on Avon and Chippenham were the worst affected towns in Wiltshire, and flooding there was reportedly the worst residents had seen since the 1960s.
But the Environment Agency has now warned that the devastation of Storm Bert is only a preview of the future flooding that is likely to occur.
An Environment Agency spokesperson added: “Storm Bert brought heavy rain, causing nationwide impacts.
"Catchments across the country were already saturated following previous heavy rainfall.
"In Wiltshire, communities such as Chippenham, Bradford-on-Avon and Malmesbury saw significant impacts with numerous properties and businesses flooded, along with roads and infrastructure.
“Nearly 70 locations nationwide recorded record-breaking river levels, including at Bradford-on-Avon, where the River Avon reached the highest level ever recorded since the gauge was installed there in 1998, demonstrating the sheer volume of rain."
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According to the agency, lessons learned from these floods are now being fed directly into the new Floods Resilience Taskforce to speed up the development of flood defences and increase the UK's resilience to extreme weather.
The UK Government is already working at pace to step up preparations for this winter, investing £2.4 billion until March 2026 to improve flood resilience and better protect communities across the country.
But while businesses in Wiltshire have spent the last fortnight trying to recover from the impact of flooding and rebuild their livelihoods, the Met Office has warned that another storm is already on the way.
Storm Darragh is set to hit the county from Friday, December 6 to Sunday, December 8 and bring heavy rain and strong winds.
A yellow weather warning has been put in place for all areas of the county, and the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service has issued a safety warning to residents who are being urged to prepare.
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