Flood Alert Issued for West Ilsley, East Ilsley, Compton, Chilton, and West Hagbourne

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Alert (Severity Level 3) for the Thames area. This alert specifically addresses rising groundwater levels, which can lead to prolonged flooding in affected communities.

Affected Areas

The alert covers several specific geographic regions within West Berkshire, including:

• West Ilsley
• East Ilsley
• Compton
• Chilton
• West Hagbourne

What You Should Do

Residents in the warning area are advised to take the following actions:

• Prepare property resilience measures to protect buildings from water ingress.
• Check that any installed water pumps are in good working order and ready for use.
• Take particular care when driving through flood water to ensure your own safety and to prevent creating bow waves that could flood adjacent properties.

Expected Conditions

Groundwater levels are continuing to rise at the Hodcot borehole and are currently higher than normal for this time of year. Consequently, flooding of low-lying areas and local roads is possible. Due to the nature of groundwater flooding, the Environment Agency notes that this situation could continue for several weeks or longer.

Timeline

The alert was officially raised at 9:11 AM on March 8, 2026. Given the slow-moving nature of groundwater, the hazard is expected to persist for an extended duration. The Environment Agency will provide an update on the situation by 12:00 PM on March 10, 2026, or sooner if conditions change significantly.