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Rugby club counts cost of sixth recent flooding

David Pick Wide shot of rugby pitches completely submerged, with goal posts and advertising boards the only items visible. Trees are in the background. David Pick
While prone to flooding, the club said its ground has been affected more than usual

A Nottinghamshire rugby club has begun another clean-up after being flooded for the sixth time in just over a year.

Newark Rugby Club, which sits close to the River Trent on Kelham Road, has previously spent £1.5m on raising its clubhouse 6ft (1.8m) above ground level.

But being swamped so many times disrupts both community sports activities and its ability to host events - the loss of which cost the club an estimated £40,000 last year.

Facilities manager David Pick said: "After so many problems we can only hope things aren't as bad as last year but it's not been a good start."

David Pick Composite image with a wheelie bin floating in water but secured to a fence, and a temporary cabin building raised up on metal legsDavid Pick
Smaller buildings can be raised and vulnerable equipment secured to minimise damage

The club has been at the Kelham Road site since 1950 but officials recognised the need to flood proof buildings when rebuilding the clubhouse in 2018.

But after rain and snow upriver earlier this month lead to floods in the county, an update on the club's website simply said 'Oh no, not again!'.

"We have flooded many times over many years but last year was a significant time for us," Mr Pick said.

"We had five severe floods, three of which were extreme - which is over 900mm of water on the site.

"This obviously had a significant effect on our ability to provide rugby to the community."

David Pick Wider shot of club pitches, with some hard surfaces flooded and much of a grass area flooded.David Pick
The cold weather has held the water in frozen ground for longer, officials said

The club provides training to about 450 juniors and up to 200 adults.

When floods are predicted, club members raise some temporary buildings and secure vulnerable equipment.

This time the freezing weather brought additional problems.

"There is some debris. There are bits of trees, plastic bags, cans, bottles, paper and lots of twigs and leaves," Mr Pick said.

"Normally we flood quickly but it goes quickly but this time the ground water is frozen so the release of the water since Tuesday has been prolonged and the fields have been covered."

Mr Pick admits there is no real solution as the membership rejected a move to new premises and any flood defences would just push the water somewhere else.

"We just have to accept the grounds are susceptible and hope we don't get the number of events we had last year because it is very, very disruptive," he said.

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