Dorset Council allocates additional £5m to tackle flooding on county's roads
The funding aims to help target known hotspots and repair storm‑damaged sections of roads
Dorset Council has announced plans to allocate up to an additional £5.25 million to its Highways team, aimed at addressing flood impacts and reducing the risk of future disruptions on the county's roads.
The funding, announced during the Full Council meeting on 10th February, includes a £5m capital flood‑resilience fund to target known hotspots and repair storm‑damaged sections.
Additionally, £250,000 has been allocated for a dedicated gully cleaning crew tasked with removing storm debris from roadside gullies, ensuring effective water movement during heavy rain.
While this investment won't prevent river or groundwater flooding, it aims to enhance highway drainage performances in typical rainfall and enable quicker recovery after storms.
Dorset Council plans to continue collaborating with the Environment Agency on managing main rivers while directing its resources towards surface water, groundwater, and smaller rivers and streams.
Another initiative involves opening formal Section 19 flood investigations under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 to review recent flooding, confirm who is responsible across agencies, review how they responded, and publish the findings.
Cllr Simon Clifford, Dorset Council's Cabinet Member for Finance & Capital Strategy, said:
“This is practical investment residents will see and feel. The package makes up to an extra £5.25m available to our highways team for urgent repairs and prevention. The £5m flood‑resilience fund is capital, so it will begin funding schemes as they are designed and delivered – getting us to the worst‑hit locations first and strengthening them for future storms.
“Alongside that, a new gully cleaning crew will clear debris from recent storms and step up prevention so heavy rain is less likely to cause disruption. Taken together, this brings total funds available for our highways to just under £50m – a record amount for Dorset.
“We’ll keep working with the Environment Agency on main‑river issues while we focus council resources on surface water and groundwater. Our teams have gone above and beyond in tough conditions – this funding backs them to keep Dorset moving.”
The council aims to prioritize works that reduce repeated flooding and keep communities connected – such as drainage upgrades, culvert repairs and surface treatments in locations with recurring issues.
This targeted programme will run alongside major safety schemes already in delivery, including works at Dinah’s Hollow near Shaftesbury, and continued coastal protection in Lyme Regis, West Bay and Swanage.
For local residents, the program promises faster recovery of flood-damaged roads and enhanced drainage maintenance, thus reducing standing water issues during typical rainfall events.
Investments will be directed to areas where they yield the most significant positive impact, guided by evidence from recent storms and local reports.
Implementation of the highways resilience program will commence immediately, with the gully cleaning crew in place and priority sites being scheduled as conditions allow and as water levels fall.
Further updates will be provided by the council as the plans are confirmed and works begin.
This announcement sites within Dorset Council’s broader £482.6 million budget approved for the 2026/27 fiscal year.