Skip to content

Flood-hit residents advised to 'use gaffer tape'

Cheryl Dennis & Jeremy Stern & Ben Marvell
BBC News, WIltshire
BBC A man wearing a white shirt and jacket looking directly at the camera in front of a cathedralBBC
Ian Withers from the Environment Agency said that gaffer tape could play a significant role in keeping water out during flooding

Residents and businesses have been told by the Environment Agency that one option is to use gaffer tape to protect their properties after the chance of a comprehensive £11m flood protection scheme was ruled out.

Bradford-on-Avon, near Bath, was badly flooded in November 2024 during Storm Bert.

Ian Withers, the Environment Agency's Area Director for Wessex said that he was "completely comfortable" recommending gaffer tape, because it will "keep water out" longer than sandbags and buy people "thinking time".

The agency said a permanent flood scheme for the Wiltshire town was unviable, with prospective costs having more than doubled since it was proposed in 2017.

Getty Images The centre of Bradford-on-Avon is seen covered in flood water, with the top of a wooden bench visible. In the background water is seen halfway up walls and doorwaysGetty Images
The town was badly flooded during Storm Bert

Mr Withers added that those with properties close to the river should be prepared.

"Having a supply of duct tape or gaffer tape in your shop, to seal up the front door makes a huge difference. Traditionally, everyone thinks sandbags are the answer.

"In fact, running gaffer tape around your door will keep water out for far longer than sandbags will."

The rejected flood scheme, which involved the installation of low walls and pumping stations, was initially budgeted at £4.5 million, but has since risen to an expected £11 million.

A man with a beard stand behind a large tray of cupcakes, decorated with green and yellow icing.
Local business owner David Waldren said that, despite the cost, leaving the town without defences would ultimately cost more in the future

David Waldren, owner of The Cake Architect on Silver Street, said he believed the decision over the flood scheme was "short sighted".

"It always seems like people don't want to take the risk of making a long-term change," he said.

"In the long run, it's going to cost more, it's going to cause businesses to close. It's going to cause residents to move out."

A man wearing a blue shirt sits on a low wall beside a river with a former mill building in the background.
Mayor Jack Vittles said it was "disappointing and frustrating" news, but that he was not surprised.

Town mayor Jack Vittles said that the agency's decision was not a surprise.

[It's] definitely disappointing and frustrating [but] not in any way unexpected."

"The funding gap was large when they shelved the project a number of years ago. That funding gap has only grown."

Environment Agency operations manager Ron Curtis said the agency remains "committed to supporting Bradford-on-Avon in adapting to flood risks through community resilience measures".

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.

More on this story