Welcome to the Dauntsey Parish Council Drainage Board (DPCDB) web site. We feel that this is by far the most complete information on flooding in Dauntsey, its history, causes and what still needs to be done to reduce and/or control flooding.

Here you can find information about flooding in and around Dauntsey, what has been done to reduce the risk and what we are still trying to achieve.

As part of this work, DPCDB has also recognised the importance of digital mapping. We now use Open Source (free) software and, under the Public Sector Mapping Agreement (PSMA) with Ordnance Survey have free access to most of their digital maps.

News

Flooding

The Highways Agency together with Mott MacDonald have produced their final M4 Dauntsey Flood Risk Assessment and published it (with very limited circulation so far) in September 2011. Meetings to discuss its findings are ongoing - if you are interested, contact Andrew Chapman on Dauntsey Parish Council for further information.

GIS

We have run two of our free GIS (computer mapping) training courses. Read all about them.

We would like to do more but, as these have been funded by those presenting the courses, we cannot run further days unless we can find external funding.

As a result of the courses however, there are an increasing number of users starting to come together and share knowledge and experiences. We have a Wiltshire based QGIS Users Group that has started to hold pub evenings - if you would like to come along, contact us.

We are still in the process of building this site. We hope you find what is already here interesting. Visit again and there should be more to see.

WARNING

There are many differing views on the causes and ways to remove or reduce the likelihood of future floods. As we learn more it is expected that the information on this site will change, but we will always try to provide as complete information as possible.

The Environment Agency Flood Maps for Dauntsey are wrong! The flood extents shown are based on the 1932 flood. Since then, the M4 has been built on an embankment cutting the floodplain. The Church Lane overpass is at right angles to the flow and is a major impediment to the historic flow. Despite clear evidence to the contrary (including the EA’s “Dauntsey Pre-feasibility Study in 2008), the EA still publishes a map with gross errors. The only recent change that they have made is to acknowledge that flooding is unlikely to cover Church Lane where it crosses the motorway!

If you feel that what is presented is incomplete or incorrect, please let us know.