Bradford on Avon flood defences out of action over safety fears

Residents were told last week to prepare their own flood defences after the town council said that the temporary barrier at the Bull Pitt had been taken out of service.

Now, the Environment Agency has confirmed a "newly-identified risk" could see people trapped and harmed if too much water presses against the barrier.

The agency is “continuing to work” with Wiltshire Council and other organisations on a £1 million flood alleviation scheme - first outlined five years ago.

The temporary flood defence barrier used by the Environment Agency in October 2019. Photo: Trevor Porter 66278-2

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “Deploying temporary flood barriers at the Bull Pit in Bradford on Avon poses a safety risk and no longer offers any benefit to properties in that area. 

“A newly-identified risk means too much water pressing against the barriers could shift them backwards, trapping and harming anyone behind them.

“Properties in the Bull Pit have also installed their own measures to prevent flood water from entering which offer a higher standard of protection than the barriers. 

“We have engaged with residents and businesses to ensure they are prepared for any future flooding.  

“We urge everyone to create a flood plan and sign up for flood warnings so they are prepared to act in the event of a flood.

“We continue to work with Wiltshire Council and others to design a suitable flood defence that will better protect more than 100 properties in the town.”

But some residents and businesses were less than impressed with the Agency’s explanation about why it has stopped using the barrier.

The agency could easily stop people from walking behind the flood defences in the Bull Pit by preventing access when the barrier is in use, they said.

James Sullivan-Tailyour, owner of the nearby Grade II listed Swan Hotel, said: “I have never heard from them.

“It’s a bit of a double-edged sword. When the river really floods that badly then it fills up my car park, then I’m going to be in trouble anyway because my cellar is basically below the water level.

“The current temporary flood defences probably wouldn’t do an awful lot to stop that and wouldn’t make an awful lot of difference.

“If the floods are like they were in 2013 when the whole area was flooded then that’s a different matter.

“While I appreciate there’s not an awful lot of businesses and/or residents affected by any flooding in the area what it does affect is the closure of an A road.

“That is really the big issue. Because of the location of the bridge, the route that you have to take to can sometimes be a 25-mile detour.”

Mr Sullivan-Tailyour said when the temporary flood defences are up they are usually manned 24 hours a day.

“The argument that somebody could get trapped behind it is ridiculous because they can just stop people from going down the Bull Pit.

“But every business in Bradford on Avon will have an issue if the main road is closed because it literally will sever the town in half.

“I am surprised that Wiltshire Highways Department has not had something to say about it.”

Tanya Kloppers, manager of The Courtyard Hair Salon, said: “I think it’s crazy that they are withdrawing it because it did hold the water back.

“I feel a bit neglected; they are just going to let us flood and just be done with it.

“It did help us a lot a few years ago when they put the barriers up because the water did come up and it did prevent a lot of floods.

“I think it’s crazy but it’s their choice I suppose.”