Simon Hoare MP set for meeting to tackle flooding in a Dorset village

Milborne St Andrew has faced significant flooding due to high levels of ground water, with a meeting being organised with North Dorset MP Simon Hoare, Dorset Council, Wessex Water and the Parish Council.

Mr Hoare said that the problem is “ongoing and historic” in the village.

“One of the first meetings I had way back in 2015 was to discuss flooding problems in Milborne St Andrew,” he said.

“Some work has been done, clearly it’s not enough. We need to understand why what has been done isn’t sufficient, and how it’s going to be dealt with.”

Flooding in Milborne St Andrew. (Image: Steve Bulley)

The MP for North Dorset said that problems of capacity for the water network in the area will be discussed, to try to mitigate the problem in the future.

“That’s what we need to find out, what else needs to be done in capacity terms, what can be done to better separate surface floodwater and household wastewater,” he said.

“If we can achieve that or something that improves the situation, then we will be able to improve the conditions of those who are living in the village.”

There had been concern over sewage in the flood, but statements from the Parish Council on Facebook, and from Wessex Water, say that this issue has been dealt with.

“On Friday 20th January, a representative from Wessex Water visited our village and witnessed the extent of our flooding problems,” the Parish Council Clerk said.

Flooding in Milborne St Andrew. (Image: Steve Bulley)

“His main focus was to address the sewerage service issues that Wessex customers were having to deal with. He immediately started a dialogue with other external agencies and on Saturday, a pump was deployed near March Bridge to good effect. Sewerage services for affected residents were quickly improved.”

A Wessex Water spokesman said: “Wessex Water has invested heavily in the Milborne St Andrew area, sealing sewers to prevent groundwater entering them and ensuring the sewerage network operates as it should do during times of heavy rainfall. However, on this occasion the river burst its banks which resulted in highway flooding which inundated the sewerage network.

“We deployed an emergency high-powered pump to remove the river water from our sewers. The Environment Agency approved this work, which was carried out on behalf of all agencies involved.

“While we worked throughout the weekend to help the community, the problem with flooding in this area is not something we can tackle alone, which is why we will continue to work with Dorset Council and Environment Agency to see what further flood alleviation work could take place.”