Storm Chandra, which hit the south of England on Tuesday, caused widespread disruption, including road flooding and property damage across the region.
Ringwood, a town on the Dorset-Hampshire border, was among the affected areas, with several homes experiencing flooding. One of the worst-hit locations was Crow Lane, where the Elm Tree pub has been forced to close after floodwater entered the building.
The pub had previously suffered significant flooding in 2023 and recently reopened following a major financial investment in renovations.
Despite the improvements, the latest heavy rainfall left the property underwater once again, highlighting ongoing drainage problems in the area.
Residents living near the pub have also been affected.
A homeowner on Crow Lane, who wished to remain anonymous, said that for her property, this year’s flooding is the worst in 15 years. She added :
“The issue is with ditches rather than the drain. Ditches all alongside Crow Lane, if the ditches were regularly kept clean, the situation when we have heavy rains would be a lot better.”
The resident also said that she has been trying to eliminate the results of flooding since this morning, with the water levels remaining high in her garden.
Crow Lane is among the most frequently flooded streets in Ringwood. The road often becomes impassable during high rainfall, particularly along the stretch between the Elm Tree pub and Crow Crossroads.
The area is affected by runoff from Hightown Hill, combined with inadequate and poorly maintained ditch and culvert systems.
Previous investigations have identified long-standing restrictions in the local drainage network, contributing to recurrent surface-water flooding.
While the wider region is currently considered to be at low flood risk, Crow Lane continues to experience chronic drainage problems.
Flooding in this area forms part of a broader pattern affecting nearby roads such as Hightown Road and Eastfield Lane.
Proposed mitigation measures, including improved drainage crossings linked to local planning applications, have been suggested to help manage surface water, though residents say problems persist.
It was reported that BCP highway crews worked through the night to deal with the impact of Storm Chandra, responding to over 100 incidents across the county and closing over 40 roads.
Storm Chandra brought extremely heavy rain and rapid rises in river and groundwater levels alongside already waterlogged ground.
Flood warnings cause evacuations