Flood Incidents

"Community spirit was displayed in July 2001 when the village suffered its worst floods in living memory. During the night and early morning of 17-18 July approaching four inches (100mm) of rain fell - according to the Environment Agency, a one-in 300-year occurrence. Local dykes and drainage systems could not cope with this torrential downpour and, by the afternoon of 18 July, Muston and Easthorpe were seriously flooded. During the early evening, Belvoir Road, the High Street and Albert Street in Bottesford, were particularly badly affected, leaving some homes with soaking ground floors. In some cases, the damage was so bad that it was over six months before the owners could return. For weeks afterwards, a familiar sight was large refuse skips parked outside the damaged properties, as builders removed fittings, rebuilt, replastered and repainted .

Local residents were obviously concerned to know how such flooding could happen. It was generally agreed that the main reason was the extraordinary quantity of rain in July 2001, after a series of wet months. The River Devon had been engineered to cope with normal rainfall, but could not contain the unparalleled amount of flood waters, especially at the Easthorpe Pastures bend. The ensuing flood-water followed the easiest routes, sometimes across land which had recently been built on. After the floods, meetings were held between concerned members of the local community, the Environment Agency, the drainage boards, and local authorities at parish, district and county council levels. Work was undertaken immediately to improve drainage and monitor rain levels, to ensure that the drainage facilities can cope and to give early warning in future."

(Taken from 'The Book of Bottesford) by Michael Honeybone, p 142)

On the 28th June 2012 there was a duration of very intense rainfall that followed a number of days and weeks of significant heavy rain. The ground was saturated and a significant amount of green field runoff was experienced. As a result flooding occurred on Main Street, Normanton with drainage systems struggling to cope with the volume of water. A number of residential properties are believed to have suffered flooding.

To view the Lead Local Flood Agency section 19 report on this incident visit;

On 20th October 2023 Storm Babet wreaked havoc across the UK causing a considerable disruption across Leicestershire.

In Bottesford the flood alert became a flood warning, with flooding expected, at 4.13pm. Flood water caused cars to become stuck at 'Ducks Crossing' and ditches on Belvoir Road were overwhelmed seeing some gardens flooded.

In response the Parish Council purchased diversion/road closed signage and tow ropes, requested additional sandbags and updated its Emergency Plan.

Another flood warning was issued for the parish at 5.05pm on 2nd January 2024 as a result of the heavy rain and strong winds of Storm Henk. The Parish Council again activated its Emergency Plan. The warning was removed at 1.37pm on 3rd January.