Planning Applications

Flooding Report - Occurrence of Flooding

Occurrence of Flooding

The area is noted for flooding during periods of high rainfall and there are Guildford Borough Council records showing more extensive flooding on a number of occasions, most recently in 2000, 2006, 2007 & 2008. The Capita Symonds report, commissioned by Guildford Borough Council and dated January 2009, shows total flooding of the area right up to the southern border of the railway embankment, in 2000 and 2006. Following this report serious flooding occurred again in July 2007 and August 2008 when properties in Southlands Close, Southlands Road, Lea Close, Wandle Close, Loddon Way, and Colne Way, and Ash Lodge Drive were flooded.

The fields, as they stand, prevented far more extensive flooding to the local properties as they acted as a floodplain, allowing thousands of cubic metres of water to flood the fields before the water rises to the level of the properties mentioned. The writer's property escaped flooding by 25 mm (just below the doorstep) although the garage was flooded to a depth of 125mm.

The field area floods often, particularly during the autumn/winter period, and large lakes form in the fields which are then populated by geese and Mallard ducks.

Due to the low drainage capability of the soil, the area was classified in the Surrey County Council flooding assessment of 2011 as an area subject to surface water flooding.