Needham Market and Wickham Market flood reports revealed

Potential natural flood management schemes and increasing the capacity of the drainage network are among the key recommendations revealed in reports for Needham Market and Wickham Market. 

Suffolk County Council, which acts as the lead local flood authority, revealed on Friday that an estimated 85 properties were damaged during the chaos, with some people still not back in their homes since Babet arrived last October.

Large parts of Needham Market were left under water (Image: Newsquest)

Reports published into the flooding have revealed how both areas were affected and have detailed a list of recommendations on how to prevent future reoccurrences. 

Foxglove Avenue was one of the worst affected areas in Needham Market. 

The report states a dropped kerb near to the junction of Barking Road created a low entry point for water to pass onto Foxglove Avenue at a quicker rate. 

An investigation into the possibility of raising the dropped kerb has been highlighted. 

A number of recommendations have been made for Needham Market (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Homes were also affected by water running off fields from the west, with natural flood management and options such as a vegetation strip at the rear of properties in Needham Market. 

The north of Wickham Market, in areas such as Ashe Road and Deben Mills, was one of the hardest hit parts of the village. Internal flooding of some homes reached as high as 60 centimetres. 

Recommendations for this part of the village include Suffolk Highways investigating potentially increasing capacity of the drainage network and Anglian Water investigating the size of its pumping station to ensure it is adequate.

Paul West, of Suffolk County Council (Image: Suffolk County Council)

Paul West, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for Ipswich, operational highways and flooding, said: "Communities such as Needham Market and Wickham Market have suffered as a result of this storm and these in-depth investigations will help us work with them and other communities to lower flood risk and build resilience ahead of future flood events."