BARHAM – Engineering teams are locked in a vigilant, around-the-clock watch as the Nailbourne surges through the district. While the river is currently tearing through Barham with an aggressive, fast-moving flow, officials confirmed Monday morning that the area has not yet tipped into a formal flood emergency.
However, the district’s fate remains precariously balanced. Experts warn that the flood status over the coming weeks is now entirely at the mercy of the skies, with everything depending on the intensity of upcoming rainfall.
A Race Against the Current
As of Monday, February 9, the river’s reach has not yet extended to Out Elmsted Lane, but authorities are refusing to leave anything to chance. A series of urgent measures are being triggered to shield the community from the rising waters:
- Road Closures: Requests have been issued to Kent County Council for the immediate closure of South Barham Road and The Causeway in Barham.
- Barriers Deployed: On Tuesday, February 10, crews will begin the heavy labor of erecting demountable flood barriers along South Barham Road to create a secondary line of defense.
- The Gates Stand Ready: Steel floodgates at Bishopsbourne and Bridge are primed for closure, with teams standing by to seal them the moment conditions deteriorate.
Service Disruptions Looming
The ripple effects of the swelling river are already being felt in local infrastructure. Canenco is currently overhauling its contingency plans, scrambling to find ways to maintain waste collection services should the rising waters sever access to the affected neighbourhoods. With the situation evolving by the hour, the district remains in a state of high readiness, waiting to see if the Nailbourne will stay within its banks or reclaim the surrounding land.