By Steve Keenan

Homes were flooded and several motorists rescued by fire crews last week when heavy rain caused the worst flooding for decades across North Dorset.

In Gillingham, the volume of water lifted iron manhole covers, one-tonne oak planters were swept away and a bench was deposited in a tree downstream.

More worryingly, a new 1.3km road being built as the main artery for 941 new homes in the town also disappeared under water, reigniting debate over building on flood plains.

The region was hit by heavy rain in the early hours of Thursday, October 21. Around a dozen homes were flooded in Bridge Close and Bay Lane, Gillingham, after both the River Lodden and Shreen Water burst their banks. The Lodden and the Shreen/Stour converge below the town near Ecliffe Mill, where a narrow entrance backs up water and floods lower parts of Gillingham – where developers Welbeck plan to build.

The site, bordered by the Lodden, has outline planning permission for 941 homes. As well as the artery road, prepatory work under way includes installation of a surface drainage system, ditches and drainage ponds.

The plan also includes lowering an area of the site to replace the volume of floodplain lost by construction of the artery road.

But Donna Noye, a Gillingham Town Councillor and flood warden, said: “The decision to build there was taken a long time ago by Dorset Council. I can’t comment as a councillor but as a resident, I have objected to this plan throughout. It is very wet ground. The areas that flooded last week are the play areas in the plan.”

The floods kept fire rescue teams busy throughout the night and early morning. A father and three children on a school run through Ecliffe had to be rescued by fire crews when they were trapped by rising water.

Fire crews also rescued motorists in Donhead St Andrew and Tisbury, and a woman in Semley trapped by floodwater rising halfway up her car window.

Flooding also affected homes in Motcombe and the Donheads, while several main roads were blocked at some stage, including the A30 near Tisbury and East Stour. The road through Melbury Abbas was also closed for several hours after a landslip.

The floods were caused by Storm Aurore and warnings had been issued by the Enviroment Agency. Gillingham Town Council unlocked five boxes containing sandbags for domestic use and went on social media to warn residents.

The council is also planning another leafletting exercise to residents to explain plans in the event of a flood.

Town Clerk Julie Hawkins said: “I am quite proud of our flood wardens and the work they put in. It was heavy rain and the (River) Lodden was particularly bad. I haven’t seen it that bad before.”

On social media, the storm invoked memories of another that hit Gillingham in 1982 and deposited five inches of rain in two hours in July. The schools were evacuated, lightning struck buildings and rescues were made by tractor and boat.

The flood levels were a metre higher than last week, said Donna Noye, whose dad ran Crocker’s hardware shop at the time. “Two different storms,” she said. “In 1982, it was two hours of rain on a hot sunny day on dry ground. Last week was heavy seasonal rainfall on wet ground.”

Flood warnings were also issued all the way down the Stour to Christchurch, including Sturminster Newton. Car parks in Blandford were closed on Thursday evening due to flooding fears.

But with no rain falling in the 24 hours following the floods, the waters receded and all roads were passable by Friday.