4.1 Two streams flow through the Broadwindsor parish, Temple Brook and The Little Axe (named locally). Water levels, in both streams, rise quickly after heavy rain. The level drops after the rain stops so flooding does not remain for extended periods. Keeping the road bridges clear of stones and detritus washed down in the floods reduces the risks of flooding.
4.2 Temple Brook flows from Pilsdon Pen north to join the Axe River. It passes under the B3162 road bridge in Greenham and there are recent records of flooding at the bridge with a number of cottages being flooded. The Little Axe starts on Lewesdon Hill, passes through both Broadwindsor and Drimpton and again joins the River Axe to the North of the parish. In Broadwindsor the Little Axe floods at the B3164 ( West Street ) bridge and cottages have been affected. In Drimpton it floods at the B3162 Chard Road (though significantly ameliorated since the bridge was rebuilt to a single span from 3 narrow culverts), again threatening properties. In addition heavy rain causes road flooding with the B3163 at Honeycombe Farm, Crewkerne Road between Drimpton and Netherhay plus the Broadwindsor to Mosterton Road being the critical areas.
4.3 Broadwindsor and Drimpton have separate foul sewage systems and the rest of the parish have private systems. There are no reports of problems with the foul sewer in Broadwindsor. In Drimpton flood water from the Little Axe enters the foul sewer causing it to overfill and discharge sewer water into the stream. South West Water say this is due to the poor state of old pipes, that pass under the stream, and are working to reduce the amount of flood water entering the sewer. The overfull sewer causes some problems to residents but South West Water are working to reduce this and have installed additional sewer vents on 3 properties in Marksmead.
Map 5. Flood risk from rivers
< Previous | ^ Top | Next >