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Drivers warned flood-prone road is closed

Katy Prickett
News imageShaun Whitmore/BBC A close up of a red sign saying road flooded road closed in white letters. It blocks one side of the road. Shaun Whitmore/BBC
The road is closed and drivers are being advised to find alternative routes

Drivers have been warned to avoid a flood-prone road after water rose to its highest levels this year.

The A1101 Welney Wash Road, on the Norfolk-Cambridgeshire border, has been closed after it regularly floods and becomes impassable.

Ken Goodger, co-founder of Welney Flood Watch, said the water had reached 2.8m high (9ft 2in) at 08:00 GMT and was still rising.

"We're trying to save someone from making an expensive journey and detour - and advising people to find an alternative route," he said.

"It's the highest it's been since 14 December 2024 and while it's not as bad as then, it could get worse if it keeps raining," he added.

News imageShaun Whitmore/BBC A raised road going through a flooded landscape, with trees rising above the water. The road crosses from a village top right and drops down bottom left. Shaun Whitmore/BBC
It is the highest level it has been this year, said Ken Goodger

The A1101 Welney Wash Road crosses the 30km-long (19 miles) reservoir near the village of Welney, on the Norfolk-Cambridgeshire border.

In 2022 a flood barrier was installed by the Environment Agency to prevent water spilling from the reservoir into Welney village.

News imageShaun Whitmore/BBC Bushra Scuhitemaker who has curling dark shoulder-length hair under a yellow bobble hat. She is wearing a yellow jacket over an Arran-style knitted beige jumper. Behind her is a water filled ditch/dyke and beyond that grass and grey sky. Shaun Whitmore/BBC
In the past couple of years, a lorry got stuck in flood water and it took a week to free it, said Bushra Scuhitemaker

Bushra Scuhitemaker, who lives locally, said she has regularly seen motorists getting stuck in the water over the years "even though there are road closed signs telling you how deep it is".

She said: "We've got a lot of farmers with tractors available to help people get out, but because the road is closed you have to pay for any services to help rescue you.

"It is a long diversion, but you know - it's still cheaper with the fuel cost than anything that could happen to your car, plus for the emergency services that then have to come out and rescue you as well."

News imageShaun Whitmore/BBC A single carriageway tarmacked road disappearing under water. There are trees on the right sticking out of the water and an average speed sign. Shaun Whitmore/BBC
However, it is still not reached the levels seen in 2024

Goodger, who is a member of Welney Parish Council and a farmer, set up the Facebook site Welney Flood Watch with Mat Barker in 2020 to provide up-to-date information on the water levels and prevent drivers from getting trapped.

"Sometimes as many as five or six fire engines have to turn up to help and we thought how can we stop all these call outs," he said.

"The objective is to stop people from going into the water - and stop the emergency services being called out unnecessarily."

News imageShaun Whitmore/BBC A black road sign which has letters saying Welney Wash lit up and beneath it a yellow sign saying approx flood depth level at Welney Wash.Beyond it is a grey sky, trees and a houseShaun Whitmore/BBC
Goodger checks the latest water levels regularly

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