Storm Ciaran: Flooding and cancelled ferries across BCP

This is what residents in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole faced on Thursday as Storm Ciarán battered the county overnight. 

Although the Met Office had downgraded its weather warning from amber to yellow, the weather still left a trail of destruction in its wake. 

The morning commute was heavily disrupted for lots of people as large puddles formed in the roads because of blocked drains.

On the A338 Wessex Way between LV Roundabout and Bournemouth West Roundabout, authorities had no choice but to close it as the water had rendered it impassable. 

Fallen tree in the Lower Gardens (Image: Bournemouth Echo)

Fallen tree in the Lower Gardens (Image: Bournemouth Echo)

Cllr Andy Hadley, BCP Council’s environment portfolio holder, said: “The council teams have been busy overnight responding to a number of fallen trees and other incidents around the area.  

“The second set of high winds will pass through at lunchtime. Stay safe.” 

Trains between Brockenhurst and Bournemouth were at a standstill as the railway lines, too, became flooded. 

Sixty trees came down across the conurbation, according to the council, with some of them being in the Lower Gardens, Bournemouth, overnight while Bourne Stream was close to overflowing. 

Water on the track at Hinton Admiral. (Image: Network Rail Wessex)

Poole Grammar School had to close to staff and pupils on Thursday because of the “significant safety risks” relating to trees which had come down on its grounds. 

Poppets Preschool in Christchurch was also closed after being flooded. 

Flooding was a big problem for many across the conurbation and its outskirts: The Elm Tree pub in Ringwood, The Woolpack in Sopley, Moors Valley Country Park and the Railway Hotel in Fordinbridge were all closed because of flooding. 

A flooded Ferndown (Image: Jan Wayman, Camera Club member)

Groyne damaged in Swanage (Image: James Brown)

Swanage high street had to be shut, and the police were called to Bakers Arms Roundabout on the A35 near Upton at 5am because of flooding. 

By lunchtime, the rain had picked up and Sandbanks chain ferry suspended its services for the rest of the day. 

Meanwhile, residents in Christchurch and Bournemouth had noticed slight discolouration of their tap water. 

This was because of the heavy rainfall which resulted in increased colour in the river that supplies Knapp Mill Water Treatment Works, according to Bournemouth Water. 

Richard Stanbrook, Bournemouth Water’s drinking water services director, said: “We appreciate that this is not pleasant, but would like to reassure customers that the water is fully treated and is fine to continue to use and drink as normal.” 

The Met Office has lifted its weather warning for tomorrow and the forecast is showing clouds with breakthroughs of sunshine.