Part of the problem with any village, town or city that sits on a river is that there is always a risk of flooding. In the case of Guildford and other areas along the River Wey, a warning about exactly that is never far away if the weather is particularly inclement for a long period of time.
The Environment Agency is always on alert to let people know if they need to be aware of possible flooding, which is precisely what has happened now. With water levels in the Surrey area remaining high, the River Wey as well as other waterways are at risk of spilling over, which would obviously cause flooding for any areas nearby.
‘Be Prepared’
The message from the Environment Agency for people living and working in the Surrey area is a simple one: be prepared. Any time we have an overabundance of rain, the River Wey and the other waterways around Surrey fill up. Sometimes, the weather can turn in such a manner that the waters in question don’t overflow, but if the warmer weather stays away for too long, the likelihood is that said waters won’t be reduced enough. The result of that is that the water can spill over, which will result in roads, fields and pathways becoming flooded. Guildford’s proximity to the River Wey makes it almost inevitable that that will happen.
More often than not, it is the Lower River Wey that is the culprit, for obvious reasons, meaning that Woking joins Guildford in being issued with a flood warning by the EA, along with Chertsey Bourne, near Virginia Water and Chertsey. It is more than likely that at least some flooding is going to occur, with the Environment Agency adopting a policy of hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. That means getting the message out to everyone that flooding is possible, which could obviously result in the likes of road closures or footpaths becoming unavailable for use. If you know your journey takes you close to the River Wey, it is something to bear in mind.
The Areas Likely to Be Affected
It goes without saying that water is unpredictable in a lot of ways. Yes, research can be done into the likes of where it has flooded in the past and how the water has acted in given circumstances, but there are a wealth of different things that can alter how the water will react this time around. What we do know is that there are certain areas around the Lower River Wey that tend to be affected by flooding, so it is these areas that the Environment Agency believes people should be more wary of. They are as follows:
- Old Woking
- Byfleet
- Weybridge
- West Clandon Stream at Send
- Chertsey Bourne
- Virginia Water
- Thorpe Green and Chertsey
- The Moat at Thorpe
What It Means for Residents
It goes without saying that you will know if your home tends to be at risk of flooding if the rain gets too bad. If you have only recently moved into a property and haven’t yet experienced this, it might be worth speaking with one of your neighbours to discover their experiences of the more inclement weather. When you’re out and about, though, the impact on your daily life will be the same as it will for everyone else who has to travel on a similar route to you. This is because low-lying land is more likely to be flooded than areas that are higher up, so any footpaths that are low down should absolutely be avoided wherever possible.
Then there are the likes of bridges that are located close to watercourses. These may well end up being closed for safety reasons, but should be avoided regardless. The Free Prae Road area is often at risk of flooding from the Bourne, so if you would normally travel along it for your journey, then you would do well to plan an alternative route just in case. Residents around the area should have a ‘flood plan’, with the EA advising people to be ready to follow it if needs be. This will include the likes of having your insurance documents ready in case you need them, as well as any medication you could need.
In the case of farmers, the advice is to move livestock and farming equipment away from any of the areas that might be flooded. For everyone else, you should avoid putting yourself in a situation whereby you might be enveloped by the flood water. This means that you should not walk through a flooded area, nor should you head into a flooded section of road on a bike. Drivers should turn around and find an alternate route, rather than taking their vehicle into flood water and assuming that they will be able to make it out. The risk of your engine being flooded and stopping you from driving is simply too great to take the risk.
Information for Guildford
The good news for residents of Guildford is that the town isn’t always at risk of flooding, thanks to the fact that it is slightly higher up than other areas of Surrey. Obviously, that could change at any point, depending on the severity of the rain, so it is important to ensure that you keep your eye out for news reports and follow updates about the weather.
In the meantime, any Guildford residents or workers who might have to travel through areas that are prone to flooding will need to look at the routes that they take and see if any of them are likely to be impacted. Another positive thing is that such flooding isn’t something that happens on a regular basis, so if you can make it through this time relatively unharmed, then you will be well versed on what to do next time the floodgates open, metaphorically speaking.