By Paul Winspear 

The main road between Bishop’s Stortford and Harlow was flooded and closed south of Sawbridgeworth after heavy overnight rain as a result of Storm Ciaran – and a flood alert has been issued for the River Stort.

The A1184 was completely submerged between Sawbridgeworth and Harlow at Bonks Hill and the junction with High Wych Road. A vehicle that was stuck in the water had to be recovered.

Hertfordshire police posted on X (formerly Twitter) at 7.53am on Thursday (Nov 2): “We are currently dealing with a road traffic incident on the London Road - A1184 Sawbridgeworth. We would ask you to please avoid the area at this time as the road is closed [and] is likely to be closed for a few hours.”

Further north on the A1184, police directed northbound and southbound traffic at Spellbrook, near the primary school, to use the layby to get round the flooded section of the road.

North of Bishop’s Stortford, the B1383 towards Stansted was flooded at the Birchanger Lane and Sion Park junctions. Essex county councillor Ray Gooding told the Indie he had sent out an Essex Highways 'jetting' team to clear the drains and allow flood water to subside.

At Clavering, the source of the River Stort, a driver had to be rescued from a people carrier after it got stuck in 3ft of water in a ford.

Newport fire station posted on Facebook: “This mobilised ourselves, Saffron Walden and specialist boat rescues. This call was easily avoided by not driving through. Please don’t drive though flood water – we are getting a high amount of calls and most can be avoided.”

Although the fire and rescue service will rescue people stuck in their vehicles, motorists are liable for their own vehicle’s salvage costs. The Newport firefighters said: “He wasn’t happy we wouldn’t recover this for him.”

A spokeswoman for Hertfordshire Constabulary said: “People are asked to please take extra care on the roads and not to drive through any flood water, as it may be deeper than it appears.”

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert – which is less serious than a flood warning – for the River Stort and Stansted Brook catchment area, meaning that flooding is possible from Clavering to Hoddesdon, including Stansted Mountfitchet, Bishop’s Stortford, Sawbridgeworth and Harlow.

At 9.30am on Thursday, at the source of the Stort in Clavering, the water level was “high” at 1.69m (5ft 6in) and rising. It was “normal” at 0.42m at Grange Paddocks in Stortford and “normal” at 1.44m in Sawbridgeworth, but levels are rising. Stansted Brook was “normal” at 0.36m.

https://www.bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk/news/main-road-between-bishop-s-stortford-and-harlow-flooded-9337809/?fbclid=IwAR0E7T_u9ad_9ENuTuwLcm6rbFMTmeS2QXfaA6yPVOg6r8X31ERCdym-zfY