Groundwater levels have been high and rising in Patcham Village since just before New Year. The rise on New Years day (1st January 2023) was one of the fastest that has been recorded at the closest measuring point... an increase of 3.34m! We were lucky the rains stopped.

If we had experienced more rain AND had 18 litres a second of rainwater dispensed from the tank on the planned Royal Mail site (PLUS foul water and sewage from the 250+ staff) it is likely that the village would have been experiencing an emergency situation.

At the moment it is possible to predict when the village will begin to experience flooding and surface water because of how the water behaves. The addition of the Royal Mail site will change this and our local knowledge could be less effective in warning residents.

Since the New Year the water levels have dropped and then with more rain, risen again. Although they are dropping at the closest measuring point they continue to rise in the Village for a further five days and we are now visibly seeing this occur.

If you drove along the London Road or Audrey Close yesterday (20th January 2023) you may have seen the groundwater bubbling up through Manhole covers and whilst the photos here make it look like the water is puddles it is actually flowing from the ground along the Old London Road and at the entrance to Brangwyn Drive.

The water begins appearing through the manhole cover at Audrey Close, it runs south down the side of the Old London Road before crossing over about half way down and continuing on the other side all the way to the London Road junction where it is exiting again via a drain. On the opposite side of the London Road at Brangwyn Drive it can again be seen coming up through a manhole cover in the road and up through a drain on the Drive. 

It is predicted the water levels should begin dropping this evening so take a walk along the old London Road today... The flow is being helped by the fact the drains are all completely blocked up too!

Please note it is still touch and go.. more heavy rain will bring it coming back our way.