Low tide saves town from flooding

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At the confluence of three rivers (Rother, Tillingham and Brede), central Rye has always had water on three sides. A short distance from the sea and sitting on a sandstone rock, Rye is subject to all the forms of flood risk: sea/tidal; river; surface, ground and sewerage. While climate change brings focus on the rise of sea level, we are experiencing more frequent extreme weather, driven by the jet stream, with the result that there are more extended bouts of heavy rainfall, causing river and ground levels to rise, surface water and the combined foul and runoff sewerage system to overload. The last two regularly cause “ponding” in well know spots and occasionally sewage spills.

Over the night of March 5-6, the Environment Agency reported 30mm of rain in 24 hours and nearly 50mm in 48 hours. This rainfall fed all of Rye’s rivers. Fortunately, effective rural flood plains upstream allow large quantities of water to be retained before it reaches Rye and then to the sea.

6 March: The Brede
The Tillingham

When peak flows occurred on March 5-6, the upstream river gauges triggered alarms. As a result, the Environment Agency issued flood warnings for properties near both the Tillingham and Brede at Rye. Operational teams from the Environment Agency, supported by the local authority (and in Rye, the local resilience team REACT) closely monitored the situation.

Fortunately overnight, there were low tides, allowing the water to egress through the managed tidal sluices to the sea.

Tides on 6 March

Rye’s sewerage system tends to overload after heavy rainfall. The result can be spillage in places such as the around the Strand, leaving any surface water contaminated. Therefore, It is important for anyone wading in flood water to, not only be wary of submerged open drains, but to be properly protected against sewage

Sewage spillage at the Winchelsea Road

The water level rises quickly in the River Tillingham, but then tends to recover equally quickly. The Brede reacts more slowly. By the morning of the 6 March, the rain had stopped but there were large quantities of flood water upstream and significant ponding in many places around Rye.

This event, although not as serious as the recent flooding in the west and north, highlighted the very real risks affecting the many who live close to the rivers. The system can cope when all its parts operate efficiently and when peaks coincide with low tides. Of course risks increase significantly when the peak flow in the river systems coincides with high tides. Then the river sluices have to remain closed to hold the tidal water and this stops the egress of river water resulting in rising levels. In these circumstances, there are contingency plans for additional pumps and temporary flood protection barriers.

In the spirit of Alerting but not Alarming residents and businesses near the rivers and flood defence walls should maintain a simple flood kit and know whom to contact in an emergency. The Environment Agency has a Floodline: 0345 988 1188.

Cadborough Cliff landslide blocks 1066 path

One of the consequences of the heavy rain though was that a local footpath got blocked by a landslide and Rye News reader Veryan Pollard sent us the photo above of the damage.

Image Credits: Anthony Kimber , Veryan Pollard .

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2 COMMENTS

  1. Covid – 19 PM’s ADVICE today (Thursday 12 March) at 1700
    Not seasonal flu; most dangerous pandemic in a generation: risk is HIGH
    Plan: Moving from phase 1 “containment” to phase 2 “delay”
    Pandemic trajectory about 4 weeks behind Italy. 590 cases in UK; around 20 in intensive care. Probably up to 20000 infected.
    Symptoms: fever and cough = self isolate
    International school trips stopped
    Those with underlying illness: avoid cruises
    Could ban major sporting events but not yet
    Could close schools but not yet
    Measures could disrupt for months: long haul
    Those with symptoms urged to self isolate
    Communities to consider the older people.
    Communities should mobilise to help: REACT is asking for community volunteers
    Chief Medical Officer: Remember to:
    – wash hands;
    – cough and temperature: self isolate for 7 days
    – with minor symptoms do not call 111
    PM: more advice to come; will get through with national effort.

  2. As a resident of Brede I am very impressed by the measures put in place to contain the water which could flood Rye from our valleys. Thus I think thanks should be offered to the farmers in the Brede and Tillingham valleys for their contribution of land as flood plain. I know they get paid but probably not enough to compensate for the amount of time this flooding will last.
    A bonus for us is seeing the Brede valley looking as it poosibly did when it was covered by sea.
    Less exciting is driving through the consequent flooding of the A28 at Brede Bridge. However, I am grateful that we do not have flooding in the Town to add to concerns about the Virus.

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