Broadbridge Heath Parish Council completes drainage improvement project
Broadbridge Heath Parish Council is delighted to announce the completion of the Broadbridge Way flood resilience project.
This infrastructure undertaking has successfully transformed a high-risk drainage ‘pinch point’ into a clear, functioning watercourse, safeguarding community areas of Broadbridge Heath and finished with a boost to local biodiversity.
To mark the conclusion of the works on Wednesday (March 25), Parish Councillors were joined by West Sussex County Councillor Christian Mitchell and Trustees of the Village Centre for the final task – hand-sowing wildflower seeds along the newly restored banks.
This seeding will turn the technical drainage site into a vibrant habitat for local pollinators, blending essential utility with environmental stewardship.
The addition of the wildflower also has a technical function in helping to bind the banks of the re-profiled watercourse and helping to manage surface water.
There will also be an opportunity during the Village Centre Easter event for attendees to collect and plant wildflower seedballs to give the community a chance to impact the revitalised area.
The problem
Previous years have seen substantial flooding of the village centre recreation field and ‘Monster’ Play Park.
The cause of this was a blockage in the culvert that runs under Broadbridge Way.
Last year volunteers cleared the debris from the watercourse to relieve the flooding, this was a temporary solution which led the Parish Council to investigate options for a long-term solution.
The issue identified was a heavily silted culvert under Broadbridge Way, a tree grown in the watercourse on the outflow side impeding flow and finally a smaller culvert on private property.
The premise
Operation Watershed Broadbridge Way is a comprehensive flood mitigation initiative led by Broadbridge Heath Parish Council to protect the Village Centre and ‘Monster’ Play Park from recurring surface water flooding.
By addressing historical drainage ‘pinch points’ through a combination of technical engineering and natural restoration, the project restores efficient water flow across multiple land ownership boundaries.
Key interventions included the desilting of the Broadbridge Way culvert, previously found to be 40 per cent obstructed, the installation of an 800mm trash screen to prevent debris blockages through the culvert, and the extensive re-profiling of the watercourse banks to return the stream to its natural path and depth.
Beyond its primary drainage function, the initiative has enhanced public safety with new bridge guarding and life-saving equipment, while fostering local biodiversity through a final collaborative effort to seed the restored site with native wildflowers.
A comprehensive solution to years of flooding
The project, part funded by West Sussex County Council’s (WSCC) Operation Watershed Active Communities Fund, was initiated to protect the Village Centre and the ‘Monster’ Play Park two of the village's vital community assets.
Following years of upstream flooding caused by a severely restricted downstream network, the Parish Council worked with our selected contractor to deliver a multi-stage restoration.
- Critical desilting – Using specialist high-pressure jetting and suction equipment (porta jet/vac), teams cleared the main Broadbridge Way culvert, which was found to be over 40 per cent obstructed by silt. A CCTV survey has confirmed the line is now 100% clear.
- Infrastructure upgrades – A custom-built 800mm trash screen has been installed upstream of the Broadbridge Way culvert to prevent future debris ingestion and blockages in the culvert .
- Watercourse re-profiling – Major excavation work took place on both the North and South watercourses. This involved removing overgrown hedges, invasive trees, and root balls that had diverted the stream's natural path. The ditch has been fully retrenched and re-aligned to its original path to maximise flow capacity. The removal of a small downstream culvert has allowed a higher capacity flow away from the problem area.
- Land ownership collaboration – The project successfully integrated works across WSCC, Parish Council, Village centre and third-party (Vistry) land, removing redundant boundary screens and culverts that had previously acted as ‘bottlenecks’.
- Public safety enhancements – New safety guarding has been installed on the bridge access to the Village Centre, complemented by the installation of ‘Deep Water’ warning signs and emergency life-saving equipment, including a throw rope.
Project lead Councillir Sam Hazell said: “Bringing this project to fruition was a complex puzzle that required collaboration between the Parish Council, West Sussex County Council, and local landowners like the Village Centre and Vistry.
“By working closely with County Councillor Christian Mitchell and our contractors, Countryside Civil and Infrastructure, we were able to fix this problem that impacted the community.
“The WSCC Operation Watershed grant scheme is a great opportunity for local Parishes and community groups to help protect their area.
“I am pleased to see this Parish Council making a difference to our community.”
Anna Branas, executive officer to the Parish Council, added: “This project represents a major milestone in our commitment to local resilience.
“By successfully securing Operation Watershed funding, we’ve been able to take direct, decisive action to protect the heart of our village from the persistent threat of flooding.
“It has been a privilege to work on this effort and ensure Broadbridge Heath remains a safe and accessible place for all our residents, regardless of the weather.”
County Councillor Christian Mitchell (Con, Broadbridge) said: “Following the significant flooding experienced across the county between 2012 and 2013, ‘Operation Watershed’ was established.
“Since its inception, West Sussex County Council has supported local communities by funding more than 450 projects, with a total investment exceeding £5 million, and has worked in partnership with nearly 150 local groups.
“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Broadbridge Heath Parish Council, their executive officer Anna Branas, and Parish Councillor Sam Hazell, and Sue Furlong at WSCC, whose dedication and hard work ensured this project was successfully secured and delivered on schedule.
“Their efforts will benefit the local community by improving water flow through the culvert and helping to reduce the risk of flooding to community buildings and play areas.”
Sean Solly, managing director of Countryside Civils and Infrastructure, said: “Countryside has been pleased to collaborate with Broadbridge Heath Parish Council on the successful delivery of the Operation Watershed scheme, which involved the clearance, cleaning, and removal of debris from the 40-metre-long, 800-millimetre-wide culvert located beneath the carriageway of Broadbridge Way.
“As part of these works, a substantial hedgerow was carefully removed from the grounds of the Village Centre to facilitate access and improve the effectiveness of the drainage infrastructure.
“In addition, the existing ditches leading into the culvert were reprofiled and reshaped to promote improved water flow and reduce the risk of future blockages. These measures form part of a comprehensive approach to enhancing the resilience and performance of the local drainage network.
“To further support public safety in the area, a Kee-Klamp safety system has been installed along the small bridge walkway.
“This includes the provision of a throw line and clearly visible signage, ensuring that members of the public are made aware of potential hazards and are better equipped to remain safe when passing through the area.
“Furthermore, a large tree situated on the downstream side of the culvert was identified as a contributing factor to recurring blockages, particularly during periods of adverse weather.
“Due to its close proximity to the culvert outlet and its role in restricting flow, the tree was felled and removed.
“This intervention was undertaken to mitigate the risk of debris accumulation and to support the long-term functionality of the culvert.
“All works have now been completed with the objective of ensuring that the culvert and associated drainage features are operating effectively and without obstruction.
“It is anticipated that these improvements will significantly reduce, if not eliminate, the instances of flooding that have previously impacted the adjacent children’s play area and surrounding land.
“Countryside values the opportunity to work in partnership with Broadbridge Heath Parish Council and remains committed to supporting future initiatives that contribute to the safety, sustainability, and wellbeing of the local community.”
A model for West Sussex communities
The results have been immediate. Since the final re-profiling was completed, the watercourse is now efficiently carrying surface water away from the Village Centre site, even following seasonal rainfall. Broadbridge Heath Parish Council is eager to highlight that this success was made possible through the Operation Watershed initiative.
Communities or Parish Councils facing similar drainage, ditch, or flooding issues are strongly encouraged to visit the West Sussex County Council website to learn more about the scheme.
Shape your village – join your Parish Council
The delivery of this project highlights the impact that a proactive Parish Council can have on its community.
Broadbridge Heath currently has vacancies for Parish Councillors, and the Council is looking for residents who are passionate about making a difference.
If you live in Broadbridge Heath and want to get involved in future projects the Council wants to hear from you.
Interested residents are encouraged to contact the Council to find out how they can help shape the future of their village in the role of Parish Councillor.
For more information on the project or to apply for a Councillor vacancy, please contact executive officer Anna Branas at [email protected].