Torrential rain causes chaos and flooding across Dorset
Highways crews are dealing with remaining problems to get roads cleared
Torrential rain last night (Thursday 4th January) saw major disruption around Bournemouth Hospital and surrounding areas.
Heavy flooding was reported near Cooper Dean Roundabout and the slipway onto the A338 Wessex Way southbound was closed due to stranded vehicles.
Passerby Matthew Birt told us:
“It took around 45 minutes to travel from Bournemouth Hospital traffic lights to Cooper Dean Roundabout, 400 metres away.
All the traffic including Buses had to move right, close to the barriers where the water levels were lower in order to get passed the flooded area.”
Elsewhere in East Dorset, drivers on Magna Road were filmed taking to the pavement last night and early this morning to avoid the flooded road.
Magna Road, between the Hamworthy Club and Canford Magna, remains close at the time of writing due to being “completely impassable".
Local councillor David Brown described the scene to us: The full width of the road was still flooded when I visited it this morning.
“There were several cars abandoned in the floodwater and it was far too deep to even attempt to get through it.”
Residents experienced 'long diversions' this morning taking them around Canford Heath, Longham or Wimborne.
Following the weather warnings and heavy rain, BCP Council highways crews will be dealing with remaining problems to get roads cleared.
Cllr Brown said: Highways teams are out and dealing with blockages and problem areas and they will be working through the day to get those resolved.
“We've had quite a lot of success locally with teams going out over the last month or two to clear gulleys and make sure streets that usually flood haven't flooded this time.”
Meanwhile in West Dorset, some roads had to be closed after becoming impassable, including the main road through Nottington on the outskirts of Weymouth.
At around 9pm last night, Cllr Matt Bell took photos that showed Radipole Lake had burst its banks onto Radipole Lane.
Then near Upwey, on the aptly named Watery Lane, he watched the water bubbling up through manhole covers and flooding Watery Lane once again.
He said: "The persistent threat of flooding places undue stress on homeowners and businesses.
"I spoke to several residents who expressed discontent about management of the River Wey catchment. Residents highlighted previous maintenance, which occurred, such as silt removal, which now appears to have ceased.
"Whilst projects on the drainage in Upwey are welcomed, they are long overdue and I hope Wessex Water are able to find a satisfactory and long term solution.
"I continue to liaise with various organisations about the management of the River Wey and Radipole Lake in the hope of reducing flood risk.
In the meantime, an emergency plan has been activated in Weymouth.
The severe rainfall and surface water experienced meant the town council activated its Community Emergency Plan, with sandbags available for whoever needed them.
One person whose car became stranded in floodwater had to be towed out and there has been flooding to some properties on Portland.
In Swanage, Shore Road has been closed due to damage to drainage systems caused by flooding, at Ulwell Road.