Flooding in Tunbridge Wells
This page explains how to prepare for and what to do in the event of flooding. It also explains the role of each agency regarding flooding and the services they provide.
Contents
Who to contact if you are experiencing flooding
Rivers
The Environment Agency has a Floodline on Environment Agency - GOV.UK
Call them to report:
- a blockage, for example a fallen tree
- collapsed or badly damaged river or canal banks
- unusual changes in river flow
- flooding from a main river
For flooding from an ordinary watercourse, such as a smaller river, brook, stream or ditch, contact Kent County Council as the Lead Local Flood Authority. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council may also provide local support, depending on the circumstances. In an emergency or where there is an immediate risk to life, call 999.
Highway drains and flooded roads
If you are concerned about blocked drains, or to report highway flooding, you should contact Kent County Council
Kent County Council Highways are responsible for the removal of surface water from roads and footways, to maintain safety, prevent damage to the highway and to minimise the impact on the surrounding environment.
Sewers and burst water mains
To report flooding from the public sewer, you should contact Southern Water
Southern Water are responsible for ensuring that their customers can continue to use their wastewater services, such as toilets and sinks.
Southern Water have created what to do in case of internal flooding which includes key steps in internal sewer flooding.
Private drains
Property owners are responsible for maintaining any private drains, or sewers that serve their property.
Drainage ditches
Property and land owners (riparian owners) are responsible for maintaining any watercourse, including drainage ditches, that run through or adjacent to their land or property.
Preparing for flooding
The better prepared you are, the better you'll cope with the effects of flooding. If you live in a known flood risk area, you should adopt a self-help approach and prepare in advance, responding to forecasts or flood warnings.
You can find out on the check flood risk page of GOV.UK if you are at risk of flooding.
A good starting point for preparation is the Kent Prepared website. General advice on preparing for flooding can be also be found on the prepare for flooding pages of the GOV.UK website.
The following checklist can help you to prepare:
- have sandbags and some plastic sheeting prepared to block doorways and air bricks, or install proprietary flood defence systems
- make up a flood kit and keep it upstairs, including:
- a torch
- blankets
- waterproof clothing
- wellingtons
- a portable radio
- first aid kit
- rubber gloves
- key personal documents
- consider writing a flood plan and store these notes with your flood kit
- talk about possible flooding with your family, or those you live with
- make sure you know where to turn off your gas and electricity
- think where you will move pets to if a flood is on the way
- think where you can move your car to in the event of a flood warning
- store valuable or sentimental personal belongings upstairs or in a high place downstairs
- think about medication, you'll still need to take it with you in the event of a flood
Sandbags
The Council does not operate a public sandbag delivery service and cannot guarantee that sandbags will be available during an incident.
Residents and businesses in areas at risk should make their own property-level preparations in advance. In exceptional circumstances, limited Council stocks may be used in accordance with operational priorities and local multi-agency arrangements, including support to parish councils where appropriate.
Sandbags do not provide complete flood protection. Purpose-designed property flood-resilience measures should be considered and any barriers must not obstruct highways, drains or emergency access.
If you live in a known flood risk area, you should adopt a self-help approach by purchasing sandbags from your local builders merchants. Always being prepared in advance to respond to forecasts of flood warnings.
Storage of sandbags
Sandbags disintegrate with exposure to the weather ,so they are not recommended for use after long periods of time. However, they can be stored in a dry place to use again in the near future, as more than one flooding incident can occur in quick succession.
Wherever possible store dry sandbags, as wet bags will decay quicker.
If you are unable to store full sandbags, please empty the dry bags and store the pile of sand in a dry place, keeping the bags so that they can be re-filled.
If you are not storing sandbags for future use, double wrap them (bin liners can be used), and take them to your nearest household waste recycling centre for disposal. Alternatively, the bags can be split open, with the sand dug into your garden and the empty bags put in your refuse bin.
Roles and responsibilities for flooding
The responsibilities surrounding drainage and flooding are varied and a number of agencies have a responsibility for dealing with different aspects, depending on the source of water.
Kent County Council, as Lead Local Flood Authority, has the lead role in managing local flood risk from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses. It is also the highway authority for roads it maintains. National Highways is responsible for drainage on the strategic road network, including the A21.
Water and sewerage companies manage the risks of flooding from public foul and surface water sewers serving buildings and yards. Home owners are responsible for private foul and surface water drainage up to the point they connect with public sewers (usually at the boundary of the property).
The Environment Agency has a strategic overview of flood and coastal erosion risk and manages flood risk from main rivers, the sea and reservoirs. Kent County Council leads on local flood risk from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses. These bodies have statutory functions and permissive powers; responsibility for a particular intervention depends on the source, location, ownership and circumstances of the flooding.
Those who own the land through which a watercourse runs have certain legal rights and responsibilities to maintain watercourses (including drainage ditches) which run through, or adjacent to their land or property.
Responsibility for flood recovery
After flooding, recovery is usually a multi-agency activity. The organisations involved and the work they undertake will depend on the source, location, ownership and effects of the flooding. The following list gives typical areas of responsibility and should not be read as a guarantee that a particular organisation will undertake every activity in every incident:
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council may coordinate or support community impact assessment, public information, housing and environmental health advice, restoration of Council services and longer-term community recovery, according to the circumstances.
Environment Agency
- undertaking or coordinating relevant clearance activity on main rivers where this falls within its powers, operational priorities and responsibilities
- supporting or undertaking flood incident activity where this falls within its powers, operational priorities and responsibilities
Southern Water
- replacing missing, or dislodged manholes
- removing silt and sewer debris from public sewers and pumping stations
- controlling access to water hydrant use
- restoring free flowing public sewers
- restoring public wastewater pumping stations
Kent County Council
- cleaning highway debris
- removing silt and debris for highway drains
- repairing safety critical defects that have occurred on the highway
- assessing the impact of flooding on roads and footpaths
Property owners and insurance companies
- internal cleaning of properties
- external cleaning (gardens and drives)
- providing dehumidifiers or driers
- pumping out flooded properties
- restoring allotments and food crops
- restoring internal electricity
- restoring free flowing private drainage
- restoring septic tanks
- restoring private wastewater pumping stations
Community Flood Wardens
Volunteer Flood Wardens play an important role in helping communities prepare for and respond to flooding.
Their local knowledge helps provide up-to-date information during rapidly changing weather conditions and flood events.
What Flood Wardens Do
Flood Wardens:
- Monitor local watercourses and flood-prone areas.
- Report flood risks and changing conditions.
- Share information with residents and responding agencies.
- Assist with local flood preparedness efforts.
What Flood Wardens Do Not Do
Flood Wardens must never:
- Put themselves in danger.
- Enter floodwater.
- Move or protect residents' property.
- Clear watercourses, ditches, or culverts.
Their role is to observe, report, and communicate.
Training and Support
Training and support are provided through the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum and cover:
- Local flood risks.
- Flood warning arrangements.
- Community emergency planning.
- Personal safety.
- Emergency response structures.
Interested in Becoming a Flood Warden?
If a Flood Warden scheme operates in your area and you would like to get involved, please email the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum for further information.
More information
More information
The Environment Agency has produced a number of guides about flooding.