Update on how heavy rain has affected Devon's roads and schools
Latest incidents as of 13:20
Bridge Street, Buckfastleigh the flood water has receded and has left the road surface badly damaged
Axminster Town centre is closed due to a lorry pulling down scaffolding
Traffic lights at the Acorn, Western way the bottom of South Street, Exeter are out. An Engineer is on site River Hele has burst it's banks near to the Hele Paper Mill and the road is closed
B3181 at Hay House drivers are driving past police road closed signs and getting stuck in the water. SWH are putting out suitable advanced closure warnings to allow lorries and cars to be able to turn around
Devon County Council is warning people to drive with caution on the county’s roads following torrential rain this morning (Wed 21 Nov).
Heavy rain has hampered travel on roads right across Devon with several routes being closed or made impassable by conditions.
Before 8am this morning, the A3052 was closed at Bowd Inn near Sidmouth and diversions were set up, Woolbrook Road in Sidmouth was impassable, the A3072 was closed at Bickleigh Bridge and from North Tawton to Bow, and the A377 was closed at Cowley Hill. The B3181 at Hayhouse, Broadclyst, was impassable, as was Langford Bridge at Honiton, and the Totnes to Avonwick road. There were also two large landslips on the B3192 near Teignmouth Golf Club.
The following roads remain closed;
Five Lanes, Compton Marldon
New Road, Bittern Park Road, Combe Vale Road, A379 Reed Vale in Teignmouth
B3121 Ermington
Vaughan Road near to the Labour Club in Exeter
A number of other roads were also affected by flooding and surface water but are open to traffic including:
B3179 - Clyst St George cars stuck leading to queuing traffic on the A376
A382 Whiddon Down
Chudleigh Knighton - Kingsteignton
A375 Cotford and Weycroft Bridge
A385 Shinners Bridge to Marley Head - both directions
A361 Gornhay Cross, Tiverton both carriageways
Halsdon Road and St. Johns Road Exmouth
Clyst Road, Topsham
Harrington Lane, Exeter
The road past Darts Farm, Clyst St. George
Warren Road, Dawlish
A380 Olchard Lane Ideford
B3193 Finlake
A3072 No Man's Land, Shobrooke.
Brickyard Lane and Staplake Road, Starcross
Lincombe Cross to Bradridge Cross, Dipford
The road from Whiddon Cross, Abbotskerswell
The road past Tower Court, Dunchideock The road from West Lodge to Stag Cross, Willand
Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, said: “I would urge people to drive with extreme caution if they are travelling in Devon today. We have again been hit by torrential rain which has caused major disruption in parts of the county so I would ask everyone to bear with us. Our highways teams are working flat out to re-open roads but it may take some time to get the county moving again. It would appear that the worst of the severe weather has now passed, but a number of roads may take a while to re-open.”
As well as roads being closed, a number of schools have also been closed, either due to flooding on access roads or staff not being able to reach the school.
Among those confirmed as closed are Membury Community School, Clyst Hydon Primary School, Sidbury Primary, Tipton St John Church Of England Primary School, Otterton Church Of England Primary School, Bassetts Farm Primary School at Exmouth, Broadhembury Church of England Primary, Stokeinteignhead School and Seaton Primary School. Sidmouth Primary School was closed this morning but will be open this afternoon.
Flood warnings are in place on the Rivers Exe, Axe, Otter, Culm, Coly, Teign and Yarty.
For more information go to http://www.devonnewscentre.info/ orhttp://www.devonschoolclosures.info/ or http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/
The Met Office has issued an Amber Warning of Rain from 2pm on Thursday. A spell of very wet and very windy weather is expected to move west to east across many parts of the UK. Coming so soon after the heavy rain which fell today, this is likely to provoke further issues with flooding. Additionally, winds will gust to 50 to 60 mph in many places. In view of the wind and rain combination, the public should be prepared for more disruption.
