Storm Chandra has left its legacy in Dorset with extensive flooding in and around Dorchester and Weymouth. Particularly affected are the upper and lower stretches of the River Frome and Radipole Lake in Weymouth.
As of 3:15 pm on Tuesday the Environment Agency issued the following warning:
A Severe Flood Warning has been issued for an area in Dorchester! Flooding is forecast to affect locations near the Upper Dorset Frome, with low lying land and roads expected to be most affected, particularly around Casterbridge Trading Estate, London Road, Mill Street, London Close, Durnover Court and Kings Road in Dorchester. Levels on the Dorset Frome are still rising rapidly due to recent rainfall.
Dorchester Town Council have posted on Facebook the following advice:
With flooding around Dorchester, DTC would like to remind residents with property at risk that sandbags are available from stores at Martinstown and West Stafford.
Details can be found on the Dorset Council website: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/w/sandbags-and-local-flooding-advice
Many major routes are or were closed including the A35 Dorchester bypass between the Stadium and Stinsford roundabouts, the A37 at Stratton, the stretch of London road leading out of Dorchester between Grey’s Bridge and Stinsford Hill and Westleaze on the way to Charminster near the Sun Inn.
A KeeP 106 listener, Lisa Gerrard, reported on Facebook that access to Charminster, Charlton Down, Cerne Abbas, etc, is only via Puddletown Bypass, then Piddlehinton, then Piddletrenthide and back onto the old Sherborne Road. It took Lisa 68 minutes for a journey which normally takes 7 minutes.
Storm Chandra has also severely affected Weymouth as the runoff flowed off the surrounding fields into Radipole Lake Nature Reserve, which burst its banks, flooding the surrounding area.
The Gurkha Restaurant and the Palm House Cafe were closed to their customers.
The flood water flowed onto Radiople Park Drive, where some motorists risked driving their way through, while others turned around, not wanting to risk their vehicles breaking down in the flood water.
Our reporter Idris Martin spoke to the proprietor of the Palm House Cafe…
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The video below of Lower Bockhampton was posted by Chris J Belsten on Dorchester News & Views: