DORSET Council has moved to clarify the reasons behind the widespread flooding across the county, following public concern that blocked drains were to blame.

Cabinet member for place services Cllr Jon Andrews said the frustration from residents is understandable but stressed that the main issue lies elsewhere.

“When water sits outside your home or on the roads you need to travel, it’s completely natural to think the drains must be blocked. And yes, blocked drains can make local problems worse – we’re not denying that,” he said.

“But the main issue isn’t drain clearance. Highways drains are designed to deal with rainwater that falls directly onto the road.

“They aren’t built to cope when rivers spill over, fields release huge amounts of water, or groundwater forces its way up from below. Most of the recent flooding across Dorset came from those sources.”

Cllr Andrews explained that while council crews have worked through the night and continue clearing debris, even clear drains cannot cope when rivers and groundwater rise rapidly.

Routine maintenance, including gully emptying, clearing ditches, soakaways and pipe runs, is carried out year-round as part of a planned programme.

He also addressed concerns about new housing: “National planning rules already require new homes to be safe for their lifetime and not increase flood risk for existing communities. That remains the case.”

The council clarified responsibilities for flooding – the Environment Agency manages main rivers, reservoirs, estuaries and the sea, while Dorset Council responds to surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses.

Cllr Andrews added: “Major flooding nearly always comes from several sources at once – especially in a rural county like ours.”