Storm Claudia - October 2025
With the ground soaked by days of rain previously, the waterways were bound to rise significantly. The first real filling of our waterways has now passed.
The Diddlebury gauge has stopped working - reported. I did visually check the sight gauge and it showed a maximum of 0.6m. (Last November it was a recorded height of 1.6m).
All other gauges were working fine, and the water levels tracked at Boulden reached its peak at 18:15 on 14th November 2025.
B4368 Bridge developed a large puddle of standing water on its north side, reported again on FixMyStreet.
Amazingly the brook in Mill Lane did not breach its banks this time. There are two drains on right near Delbury Farm that are overgrown and blocked I have reported on Fix my street. Again the drain by the bridge struggles but ok. - Sharon
Some after flowing across the road at the Middlehope junction but we had cleared all the drains and all running away as required. Local farmers my do some work to widen the broom above the junction in an effort to keep the water in the brook as opposed to overflowing onto the road and then washing debris onto the drain covers, which easily block. - Ian
Flood Forum Meeting with Culmington and Ludlow Flood Action Groups – 6th May 2025
At the meeting the meeting each FAG introduced their current status in terms of their action plans.
At the meeting there were 5 members from Culmington, 2 from Ludlow, and myself together with Abbi and Katia from the Flood Forum. Thank you for the apologies from Sharon Constable and Ian Baston.
The topics discussed were
- A live willow fence built along the embankment of s stream to prevent further bank erosion.
- The Severn – Wye EA run group, which Roger from Culmington FAG has been invited to join.
- Another Culmington FAG member explained how subsoiling his fields had improved moisture retention as well as other benefits such as a longer grazing period.
- How communicating with others has been very important to get messages across relating improving flood resilience in their area.
- Leaky dams, and how well they are perceived to be working.
- Shropshire Council is currently in the process of updating the flood strategy, as like you say it is 10 years old. Once the first draft is complete, John Bellis would like the Flood Action Groups to review it and provide comments on what they would like to see in the new strategy.
- Culmington FAG explained how they started by mapping all the drains, then were able to suggest necessary improvements to council departments.
Possible Takeouts for Diddlebury FAG
- The subsoiling idea could be discussed as a possible solution for the water runoff that affects the Diddlebury Primary school. I understand that there is a contractor nearby. Sharon are you still discussing options with at school governors meeting?
- Should we confirm drains in our territory against the Shropshire council map?
