DORSET Council has vowed to step up support for residents and invest in long-term flood resilience as the county grapples with historic water levels and further rain forecasts.

Council leader Cllr Nick Ireland said residents had faced “flooded roads, cancelled plans, damage to homes or businesses, or the constant anxiety of watching water levels rise” over recent days and weeks.

“I see that. We all do. And I want you to know: you’re not facing this alone,” he added.

Council crews have been working around the clock, clearing drains and watercourses, putting out road signs and barriers and coordinating with partners including the Environment Agency and local town and parish councils.

Cllr Ireland described their efforts as “remarkable” and thanked staff and partners for their dedication in “miserable conditions.”

Acknowledging that extreme weather events are becoming increasingly frequent, Cllr Ireland highlighted the council’s Climate Adaptation Strategy, launched last year to help plan for future flooding.

“Events that used to be called ‘once in a century’ are becoming familiar,” he said.

The council is also preparing proposals for “substantial additional capital investment” to target areas prone to repeated flooding, alongside expanding resources for highways teams to increase frontline capacity for clearing gullies and dealing with debris.

“This is about recognising both the urgent repairs required right now, and the bigger task of adapting our infrastructure so Dorset is better prepared for the extreme weather we know we’ll continue to face,” Cllr Ireland said.

He stressed the council’s immediate priority remains residents’ safety and wellbeing.

“If you’ve been affected, please reach out – we are here for every resident and every business dealing with the impact of this flooding. Dorset is a strong, resilient place, and we will get through this the same way we always do: by supporting one another.”

The statement comes as communities across Dorset continue to deal with localised flooding and rising water levels, prompting renewed calls for investment in flood prevention and infrastructure upgrades.