Flood Sensors Installed on Gloucestershire Roads to Cut Disruption

Sensors designed to detect rising water levels and prevent road closures are being installed along key routes in Gloucestershire as part of a 12-month pilot scheme.

Gloucestershire County Council is fitting the devices on Cirencester Road in Charlton Kings, as well as St George’s Road and Pittville Circus in Cheltenham. The aim is to improve response times during heavy rainfall and reduce disruption to motorists and residents.

The system uses sound wave technology to monitor water levels in roadside gullies. When levels begin to rise, alerts are automatically sent to the council’s Flood Risk Management Team, enabling quicker intervention before flooding forces road closures.

Councillor Martin Horwood, cabinet member for nature, waste reduction and climate, said the initiative is part of wider efforts to strengthen resilience to extreme weather.

“We’re working to help reduce road closures, protect properties and improve daily commutes during heavy rainfall,” he said.

“Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent due to climate change and the council is looking for ways to reduce the impact on our communities. We clear more than 130,000 gullies every year and if this scheme proves successful, it could offer the potential for wider adoption across other parts of the county.”

Gloucestershire is one of seven counties taking part in the trial. If successful, the technology could be rolled out more widely across the region.

Councillor Julian Tooke, cabinet member for business, economic development, planning and infrastructure, said the pilot reflects the council’s commitment to using digital tools to improve public services.

“We are making smarter use of technology and delivering enhancements to services for residents across the county,” he said.

The council hopes early warning of rising water levels will help avoid what it describes as “huge amounts of disruption” caused by flooding on major routes.