12:13PM, Monday 08 January 2024
Major disruption has been caused over the weekend as East Berkshire and South Bucks was hit by its most severe flooding since 2014.
A number of road closures are in place across Windsor and Maidenhead while Cookham has been left with no road access due to rising floodwaters.
We'll be bringing you updates and photos throughout the day detailing the impact on our communities.
Wednesday, January 10
6.10pm: Thames Water has apologised to residents in Lightlands Lane, Cookham, after reports of sewage water flowing into their properties. Read more here.
6.05pm: Sports clubs close to the River Thames are facing up to potentially crippling recovery costs this winter after their grounds were devastated by flood water this week.
Reporter Dan Darlington spoke to some of the clubs affected. Read more here.
10.05am: The Olde Bell on Hurley High Street is closed to new guests and has thanked the community for their support during the severe flooding across the village this week.
A spokesperson told the Advertiser: "We can confirm that The Olde Bell was unfortunately impacted by the significant rainfall over the weekend, resulting in flooding across some areas of the hotel and its grounds.
"In light of this disruption, we are temporarily closed to new guests. Guests with reservations at The Olde Bell are being contacted and offered relocation to one of our partner hotels, The Thames Riviera, pending our being ready to re-open.
"We’d like to extend our thanks, and are incredibly grateful to the local community for their support."
10.00am: Reporter Sam Leech spoke to fire crews from the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service to hear about evacuation efforts in the flood-hit village of Wraysbury. Click here to read more.
9.55am: Wokingham Borough Council has announced Wargrave Road, Wargrave, and Lodge Road, Hurst, have re-opened following flooding.
The local authority said it is assessing the remaining closed roads and will re-open them when it is safe to do so.
Tuesday, January 9
6pm: Residents continue to grapple with the impact of severe flooding across East Berkshire and South Bucks. Click here for a round-up of some of our photos from a difficult few days.
9.30am: Emergency services are working to evacuate vulnerable residents in Wraysbury to safe accommodation.
A statement from Windsor and Maidenhead council in the early hours of this morning said: "Following a multi-agency decision last night, the council and emergency services have been working to contact vulnerable residents from those parts of Wraysbury most affected by the floods.
"Fire and Rescue Services have been working with social care staff to assess and assist residents with additional needs and to evacuate them to safe alternative accommodation. This operation is continuing.
"A rest centre has been made available at Windsor Leisure Centre for any residents who may need somewhere warm and dry to go because of flooding in their homes."
The council's emergency out-of-hours contact is 01753 853517.
5.55pm: Rugby pitches at Home Park in Windsor have been severely impacted by flooding.
5.51pm: Floodwater has submerged part of the Compleat Angler's garden in Marlow
5.49pm: The Cookham Causeway remains the only point of access into Cookham for pedestrians and vehicles.
5.41pm: 'Tiser photographer Ian Longthorne has donned his wellies to capture the flooding across our communities. First up, a submerged car near Cookham Moor.
4.14pm:
Flood water has affected some areas of The Mill at Sonning, but according to Sally Hughes, managing director, 'the show will go on'.
"It has been a difficult two days but we did manage to operate two shows over the weekend.
"The river is now going down and we are cleaning up. Luckily all the areas in The Mill that are vital - the auditorium, the kitchens and the restaurant are not affected.
"So all of our shows are scheduled to happen this week with a few tweaks."
3.45pm:
A host of road closures are currently in place across the Royal Borough due to flooding.
The roads affected are as follows:
In an update on its Facebook page, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead council, added: “Please take extra care when travelling around the borough today. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”
3.15pm: An update from Charvil's flood warden, Duncan MacGregor
"Charvil experienced sewage spills on Wednesday, which were resolved rapidly by Thames Water. The area then experienced an usually rapid rise in flood level overnight Saturday morning and many residents woke up or were woken up in order to have their cars moved to safety. The flood continued to rise at a slower level to a peak on Sunday midday and came within about 10cm of the lowest house in the main part of the village. It then receded slowly."
PHOTO: Lee Cripps
3.05pm: Nothing a few forks in the ground won't sort...
When the Hellenic league think it might dry out for tomorrow nights game and request a pitch inspection, lost for words pic.twitter.com/58FGX27q1Q
— Holyport FC | Est 1897 (@HolyportFC) January 8, 2024
2.41pm:
A café in Cookham High Street announced yesterday that it would be closing until further notice following the heavy flooding around the village.
Yesterday (Sunday) the Royal Borough council announced that it would be closing various roads in the village including Sutton Road due to flooding.
This meant there was no road access in and out of the village and as a result the Cookham Causeway was opened.
Parea Artisan Café & Delisserie stated in a post on its Facebook page that in the interests of safety and discoursing any movements to Cookham yesterday, that it would be closing until further notice.
In the post, the business said: “You are probably aware by now but there is heavy flooding in and around Cookham making the roads dangerous (even for our 4x4) and inaccessible.
“We want everyone (our customers and staff) to stay safe and as we want to discourage any movements towards Cookham today, we will be closed until further notice.
“Lovely community of Cookham-on-sea, stay safe.”
2.15pm:
Hurley Riverside Park park director, Will Burfitt said their land has also been flooded at a similar level to 2014.
He said: "Our Holiday Park is closed due to the flooding but luckily our Touring and Camping park is closed until March 1 anyway. We have been flooded throughout the park – it’s of a similar level to the 2014 flood and the village High Street has been closed as it was then.
Photo credit: Will Burfitt
1:46pm:
The River Thames in Datchet has reached its highest level since the devastating floods of 2014.
More than 100 properties in the village were flooded a decade ago after the Thames burst its banks having reached a height of 5.72 metres.
The level of the River Thames stood at 5.55 metres in Datchet at midday today, according to the Government’s flooding service.
Datchet, Horton and Wraysbury councillor Ewan Larcombe (Independent, National Flood Prevention Party) said: “If we reach the 2014 levels it will be the same as last time, in fact probably worse due to all the development that has taken place and the failure to maintain the land drainage infrastructure.”
He also hit out at the previous Conservative administration for failing to commit the £53 million required for the Royal Borough to be included in the multi-million pound River Thames flood alleviation scheme.
Back in 2020, Datchet and Wraysbury were removed from the Environment Agency’s project, which had planned to build three flood alleviation channels alongside the River Thames to protect up to 15,000 homes from flooding.
1:20pm:
The Thames at Bourne End has also burst its banks. Manager of Bourne End Marina, Richard Wright said floodwater was currently '6-8 inches deep' in the marina office and added: "It's a nightmare."
Flooding at Bourne End Marina this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/mPUDNWx0Qi
— Sam Leech (@SamLeech_BM) January 8, 2024
1.05pm:
The grounds of Hurley Cricket Club have been flooded for the second time in ten years.
Facilities manager, Mike Walton said Hurley Cricket Club was flooded in 2014 which subsequently required the refurbishment of the pavilion and machinery repairs due to flood damage.
He said: “Since then we can no longer get insurance against flooding and, from what I could tell yesterday (Sunday), it’s the same level of flooding again. We’re in trouble.
“The whole ground is underwater, and I would guess that it’s probably about two feet deep inside the pavilion again, which is what it was in 2014. It’s pretty much the same and we can’t get near it at the moment.”
Unfotunately our ground is flooded again. Echoes of 2014. pic.twitter.com/H41D47owv8
— Hurley Cricket Club (@HurleyCricket) January 7, 2024
12.35pm:
Ray Mill Island is closed today due to flooding. A statement from RBWM council said the small animals in the animal enclosure were evacuated to safety.
Ray Mill Island Closure: Please be advised that Ray Mill Island will be closed tomorrow due to flooding. We have evacuated the small animals from the animal enclosure, to ensure their safety during this time. pic.twitter.com/S8NPUEBHyt
— RBWM (@RBWM) January 7, 2024
12.20pm: A number of parks and open spaces in the borough are currently closed due to flooding, Windsor and Maidenhead council has warned.
UPDATE: A number of parks and open spaces in the borough are currently closed due to flooding.
— RBWM (@RBWM) January 8, 2024
These include Bellrope Meadows in Cookham, Ray Mill Island and Guards Club in Maidenhead, and Baths Island in Windsor. pic.twitter.com/uvlN0K7ANs
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