Flood Warden Update

Unfortunately, we had some flooding again on the 1st of October this year. The affected area was only limited to the Brookside (both sides) and didn’t really expand. Three cars (that we know of) were written off because of trying to drive through flood water.

The gauge on the Barkby Brook that the Environment Agency installed in the summer proved extremely useful for us. You can monitor the height of the brook from home to get an idea of what the brook is doing. Or use your phone camera to scan the QR code above left.
We know from this instance that the height of the brook can hit a height of 0.80m on the gauge before water starts to break its bank at the Brookside (club side). We know that it currently says the top of the normal range is 1.20m. We’ve sent our feedback to the EA to adjust this.

If you’re on Facebook, you should follow our Facebook page – “Syston Flood Wardens”. Or use your phone camera to scan the QR code above left. Not only is it the best way to get in touch with us, it’s where we post frequent updates on flood alerts, current flooding, weather warnings, flooded and closed roads, with updates on getting the brook cleaned.
Desilting
The EA’s contractors did some preliminary cleaning at ‘Butchers Beach’ at the beginning of October, but this isn’t the end. The EA are due to come back to start the actual desilting of the brook, hopefully by the time you read this article they will have started. The area covered is around the Melton Road car park and along the Brookside. A road closure will be in place on Brookside (club side) between 28th October and 17th November, as per Causeway one.network. The area from Memorial Park to the railway bridge is coming later, the date to be confirmed.
A huge thanks from us to everyone involved in getting this accomplished. We’ve been working really hard since January to get this done.
Be Flood Ready
You could say that it is ‘Flood Season’, where flooding could happen again. We, as well as other organisations, only have a limited number of sandbags available to distribute. While there is time, prepare now before it happens again.
Twenty tonnes of sand, donated to Syston Town Council by Aggregates UK was delivered by Wanlip Sand and Gravel to the Barkby Road Cemetery in March 2024, this donation was arranged through Cllr Satish Visavadia.
The sand is for Syston residents to help protect their homes from flooding. Residents are asked to bring their empty sandbags to the Council, and these will be filled by the Estates team ready for collection.
Vulnerable and less mobile members of the community will be provided with a door to door service, please call the Council on 0116 2607150 or email mailbox@systontowncouncil.gov.uk
There are also the Hydro Snakes flood defence bags available from the Council and from Flood Wardens; the Hydro Snakes need to be saturated with water before use.
Please be prepared and have your sandbags ready before a flood occurs.
Wicks also sell the hydrosnake and hydrosack sandbags.
Hydrosnake – £20/ea, 10 for £170
Hydrosack – £19/ea, 10 for £150
This is not an endorsement of the products, and might be an online only deal. Do your own research.