Living by the River

Living close to the River has many attractions. There are peaceful views, opportunities for rowing, sailing or fishing, flocks of gulls and visiting wading birds, it can be very pleasant. However occasionally a combination of high tides and weather causes the water level in the River Itchen to rise higher than normal. Mostly this is a minor inconvenience. The roads near Priory Road Hard and at Woodmill may experience shallow flooding for an hour or so and the ends of some gardens may be flooded. The majority of homes and commercial properties in the St Denys and West Itchen area are above the level of any flooding. However should a severe storm surge coincide with a very high tide, a small number of properties are at risk of flooding. This section discusses how residents should…

• prepare for possible flooding – determine if your property is at risk and prepare a flood plan
• report flooding – if flood water backs up through the road storm drains or becomes contaminated, how to report this to the authorities
• consider flood protection measures similar to this example of property level flood protection in a typical St Denys house.
• enjoy life on the river… a photo gallery!