Topographical Survey

Exeter City Council have appointed Westcountry Surveyors to conduct a topographical survey along part of the river frontage in Topsham. Work will commence during the week starting Monday 7^th November 2106 and will last up to 4 weeks, with surveying staff undertaking a land survey that will include all features such as properties in an area from Riverside Rd to the Goat Walk at the end of the Strand.

Information gathered from the survey work will be used to determine the potential impact of flooding on properties and the level of protection that can be delivered, considering both economic and environmental factors. This will be fed into an options appraisal which will, hopefully, point the way forward for community flood alleviation in Topsham.

Threshold levels to be measured will typically be front door levels so access to gardens will not usually be required, with the exception of properties on Riverside Road and Sir Alex Walk where levels at the rear of the property will be surveyed.  The survey will encompass all existing flood defences such as location / alignment, height and width of walls and typically will take no more than 15 minutes per property. The resident will not need to be present as long as access to gardens, where required, can be arranged. 

Surveyors will knock on the door of properties where access to gardens is required and check with residents that it is a convenient time, but if there is no answer they will carry out the survey if access is available. Where access is not possible they will put a note in the letterbox to the owners to contact them to arrange a mutually convenient time.  Each member of the survey team will have their own individual identification and carry a letter of authority from Exeter City Council. Without both, the owner is advised to refuse access.

This work has been commissioned by Exeter City Council and is being undertaken with the full knowledge and support of the Topsham Community Association and the Topsham Emergency Group.

Survey work will be cover properties within the 5.5m AOD (Above Ordnance Datum) line and will include properties in:

• ·      Exe St
• ·      Ferry Rd
• ·      Follett Rd
• ·      Halyards
• ·      Hamilton Rd
• ·      Riverside Rd
• ·      Sir Alex Walk
• ·      Topsham Quay
• ·      The Strand
• ·      Tresilian Gardens
• ·      Amity Place
• ·      Higher Shapter St
• ·      Lower Shapter St
• ·      Jubilee Square
• ·      Holman Way
• ·      Monmouth Hill
• ·      Strand Court
• ·      Tresilian Gardens
• ·      White St
• ·      Fore St

 Approximate timing of the work is as follows:

07/11/16 – 18/11/16 – Recreation Ground to Wixels (Ferry Rd nr Church Steps) - Banktop survey at the recreation ground, survey of wall levels of riverside properties

21/11/16 – 02/12/16 – Trout & Sons to The Goat Walk, survey of wall levels of riverside properties.

 Any enquiries should be directed to Peter Stewart - Commercial Operations Manager, Exeter City Council, tel. 01392 265592

High tides in Topsham from Saturday

We will be experiencing high tides from Saturday 15th October through to Wednesday 19th October, including a 4.6m tide - the highest of the year - on Monday evening.

Fortunately, the forecast is that high pressure will continue to be with us, with wind direction from the west or north west, we consider that the likelihood of flooding is low.

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May's high tides are with us this weekend

We are approaching Spring tides again this coming weekend with the highest tides (max 4.4m) at 07.54 and 20.18 on Saturday 7th and at 08.42 and 21.02 on Sunday 8th.

However with atmospheric pressure predicted to be above 1003 mb and light winds from a SE direction there should be no flooding problem.

High Spring tides and inclement weather forecast on Sunday 10 April

Topsham residents will be aware that there are high Spring tides this weekend, 9-10 April. On Sunday adverse weather conditions are forecast with rain and high winds, particularly in the evening, which means that some low lying areas adjacent to the river may flood. There are likely to be winds gusting up to 30 mph from east-south-east for most of the day. However the atmospheric pressure should be high-ish, meaning there is unlikely to be a significant storm surge.

Our expectation is that water will overlap low lying places, therefore residents adjacent to such areas who have flood protection should deploy on Sunday, particularly the evening. For those without property protection there will be sandbags available at the usual points, i.e. Topsham Quay and the Rec.

Please note that the weather forecast for Sunday has been changing most of the week, so residents should keep abreast of matters by tuning into the radio, tv and/or internet weather forecasts. If the situation worsens we will place flood wardens on standby.

High tides this week, 8 - 13 March

There will be high Spring tides between Tuesday 8/03/16 and Sunday 13/03/16, the highest being between 07.30 and 08.30 on Thursday 10th and Friday 11th.

However on these days we will be experiencing high pressure with the wind from the North West veering round to the South and then to the Northerly direction again.

The risk of flooding is LOW.

Spring tides next week (starting Monday 8th February)

We can expect Spring tides along the Topsham waterfront all next week, with the highest tides at 4.5m on Thursday and Friday.

At this stage there are some concerns about Monday, mainly due to the strength of wind (gusting to 60 mph) so residents should keep a close eye on the weather forecasts for Monday. Also, with the recent heavy rain, there is a lot of water in the river. If going away, we suggest you deploy your flood defences.

However atmospheric pressure is set to rise from Tuesday, and from Wednesday the winds are expected to veer northerly.

Overall our assessment is that the risk of flooding is low to medium.