Bikes, brollies and shopping trolleys were among some of the obstructions cleared from stretches of the River Ray and Whitehill Stream in Swindon by Environment Agency operations staff.
The work was carried out as part of routine annual maintenance across Swindon and the rest of the Thames region, ensuring that streams and rivers are clear of blockages, and reducing the risk of flooding during low level events.
The team of workers also undertook pollarding – or trimming back – of trees on the banks of the river, which often become overgrown and cause blockages.
John Hillier, who led the project team, said: “These pictures highlight the fact that maintenance work we carry out can make a real difference to the risk of flooding.
“We have a team dedicated to the Swindon area, which carries out an annual clearance programme of work along these stretches, targeting our clearance work where it will be most effective and have the most benefit.
“While we do have powers to carry out clearance work, we would also urge all riparian owners to ensure that the watercourses running through their land are clear of any potential water obstructions to keep the risk of flooding to a minimum.
”We would also call on supermarkets to ensure that they are doing everything they possibly can to reduce the likelihood of shopping trolleys being taken off their sites �" these invariably end up in watercourses and they not only cause a flood risk but can also be a problem for local wildlife, as well as being unsightly.”
The Environment Agency is the lead agency for providing flood risk protection and warning of flooding from ‘main’ rivers. Other bodies, (Local Authorities, the Highways Agency and utility companies) are responsible for the standards and maintenance of smaller watercourses, culverts, drains and sewerage systems.
Mr Hillier added: “We have to prioritise the work we do against the risk, which we do as part of our annual programme of works, and we carry out maintenance in the areas we believe are most appropriate, which are those worst affected by flooding.”
The Environment Agency urges every household and business to check their flood risk by calling Floodline on 0845 9881188 or putting their postcode into the online flood map at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood
