Wiltshire Council has committed to investing an additional £1m over three years to tackle flooding in the county.

Despite currently spending £1.27m annually on emptying gullies, it is only able to clear them on most roads in Wiltshire once every three years. Only main roads’ gullies are emptied annually.

But the authority has now invested an additional £333,000 per year until March 2025 to focus on problem areas which are at risk due to the build-up of silt and debris.

The money has funded an extra combination jet vacuum unit which will focus on clearing these areas with a high-powered jetting facility.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

Cllr Caroline Thomas, the cabinet member for transport, said: “Flooding on our highways can create dangerous driving conditions and cause localised issues, and that’s why we’re investing this extra £1 million over three years to tackle problems when they occur. 

“One of our objectives is to have well-connected communities, and this extra powerful jet machinery is helping us to tackle difficult areas and keep Wiltshire moving, which is particularly important given the wet winter we’ve had.”

The council says 1,000 extra gullies have been cleared and 120 tonnes of debris removed since October 2022.

Flooding or blocked gullies can be reported using the MyWilts app or the council website.