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The investigations into the flooding which occurred in Needham Market and Wickham Market during October 2023 have analysed what caused these events and recommend what could be done to alleviate flooding there in the future.
In Needham Market, over 45 residential and commercial properties were internally flooded. In Wickham Market, it was 40 properties. In both communities, infrastructure and services were disrupted.
The investigations found that the areas were severely impacted by flooding due to the intensity of rainfall that overwhelmed the natural flow routes and the capacity of watercourses and drainage infrastructure. This situation was compounded when overland flow paths converged with the water from rivers that had burst their banks.
Key recommendations for both areas, which include short, medium and long term proposals aimed at individual homeowners, community groups, landowners and Risk Management Authorities, include:
These actions could help mitigate local flood risk.
Councillor Paul West, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for Ipswich, operational highways and flooding, said:
"The impact of Storm Babet is still being felt across the county with some people still not back in their homes. Communities such as Needham Market and Wickham Market have suffered as a result of this storm and these in-depth investigations will help us work with them and other communities to lower flood risk and build resilience ahead of future flood events.“We recognised the importance of carrying out these investigations thoroughly following Storm Babet, so invested an extra £1 million of funds to bring in additional specialists.
“I also urge anyone who suffered internal flooding as a result of Storm Babet to apply for the £5k grant to make their homes more resilient to future floods. Applications can be made until April 2025 and anyone interested should make contact with us at floodgrants@suffolk.gov.uk.
”Suffolk County Council has a duty to investigate significant flooding under Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act. These investigations help to establish the source of flooding, factors which may have caused or exacerbated the flooding, the impacts on people, services and infrastructure and make recommendations for actions which could be taken to increase resilience to future storm events.
Since the storm, targeted recovery work has been carried out across the county to ensure damaged highway infrastructure is repaired, those whose properties were flooded get help and that investigations can start which will identify how to reduce flood risk. In any usual year, Suffolk County Council carries out around three or four of these flood investigations. However, following Babet approximately 50 have been commissioned.