Upper Piddle Flood Risk Management Scheme Information Page

Overview

Welcome to the Upper Piddle Flood Risk Management Scheme Citizen Space information page.

The Upper Piddle Catchment Flood Risk Management Scheme aims to reduce flood risk to properties and infrastructure in the upper catchment of the River Piddle on the Dorset downs.

There is a high level of flood risk within the Piddle Valley which is expected to increase due to climate change. There is a long history of flooding in the valley from the river, groundwater, and surface water.

Currently, the Upper Piddle valley does not have a flood risk management scheme. Following an assessment of the flood risk to the Piddle Valley by the Environment Agency, a series of options have been developed.

The scheme proposes the combined use of natural flood management (NFM) techniques, engineered solutions and measures that will reduce risk to property. A project will be led by the Environment Agency and its partners, which will explore a combination of these options for reducing the flood risk to the Piddle Valley.

We would like to use local knowledge to inform our decision making and work with all stakeholders including the local community. By working with our stakeholders, we will establish the best combination to ensure sustainable local growth and make the Piddle Valley a more resilient place to a changing climate.

Thanks to everyone who attended our first community drop-in event at Piddletrenthide on the 17 November 2022.  We will be holding another drop-in in late 2023 as the scheme progresses (date TBC).

We have created these pages to provide easy access to information on the scheme. 

Caption: Flooding in Puddletown - 2014

Background-Flood Risk to the Piddle Valley 

Background-Flood Risk to the Piddle Valley There are approximately 68 properties at risk of flooding in the Piddle Valley. This could rise based on future climate change scenarios. The River Piddle catchment lies within the Dorset Downs.

The upper catchment area between Alton Pancras and Puddletown is referred to as “Piddle Valley”. There are two key features of the catchment that can lead to flooding. These are the steep valleys and the permeable (spongy) chalk bedrock. The steep sloping hills respond quickly to rainfall. The surface water which runs down from the hills can cause flooding in the valley. The fractured chalk of the Piddle Valley is highly permeable.

This means it absorbs rainfall which in turn feeds the groundwater supplies. The groundwater supplies increase every time it rains. In turn, the groundwater supply feeds into the River Piddle and causes river levels to increase. The historic use and modification of the river and its floodplain may also be a cause of some of the flood risk in Puddletown. There have been numerous well recorded instances of flooding in the valley and there is a long history of flooding from the river, groundwater, and surface water.

For more information on your flood risk visit www.gov.uk/flood or call Floodline on 0345 988 1188

Caption: Map of the River Piddle Flood Risk Management Scheme study area

Building a Better Place 

The project, led by the Environment Agency and its partners, will build on the natural flood management work previously undertaken by the partnership between:

• Dorset Council (DC)

• The Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG)

• Dorset Area of Natural Beauty (Dorset AONB)

• The Environment Agency.

The partnership has already worked to create wetlands and plant hedges in the Plush and Alton Pancras areas. FWAG have worked with local farmers to encourage more flood resilient farming techniques. Wessex Water have carried out work across the Piddle Valley to reduce infiltration. The project will take this vital work one step further to deliver a scheme that reduces flood risk to the Upper Piddle area.

Importantly, the project is also an opportunity to secure wider environmental improvements. New wild areas will be created, and the health of the Piddle Valley’s rivers, streams and wetlands will be improved. By enhancing the biodiversity and amenity value of the Piddle Valley, the scheme aims to create a much more habitat enriched area for residents and visitors.

Beside the scheme, we also want to improve awareness and understanding of the local flood risk. We want to ensure the community understands their responsibility and the actions they can take to improve their resilience to flooding.

Caption: Map of the River Piddle Flood Risk Management Scheme study area