West Sussex County Council is urging residents to take simple, proactive steps to protect their homes and communities from potential winter flooding, as part of this year’s Flood Action Week campaign.

The call comes as the county enters the wettest months of the year, with the Arun Valley – including Pulborough, Amberley and surrounding villages – historically vulnerable to both river and surface‑water flooding. The council has released an updated online flood guide, offering practical advice on how to prepare, what to do during a flood, and where to find support afterwards.

“Flooding can affect anyone,” says Cabinet Member

Cllr Natasha Davie, Cabinet Member for Environment & Climate Change, emphasised that flooding is not limited to rivers or coastal areas:

“While flooding is often associated with rivers and the coast, it can also happen in urban areas following intense or prolonged rainfall, affecting roads, homes and communities. Flooding can affect anyone and often happens more quickly than people expect.”

She added that the council wants residents to feel “informed and prepared before winter,” encouraging households to understand their flood risk and take action now to reduce the impact of severe weather.

Practical Steps Residents Can Take

The council is encouraging residents to:

• Check their flood‑risk status using Environment Agency maps
• Sign up for flood warnings
• Prepare an emergency kit with essentials such as medication, torches, and important documents
• Create a household flood plan
• Consider property‑level protection, including flood barriers, airbrick covers and non‑return valves

These steps mirror advice already familiar to many Pulborough residents, who have experienced repeated winter flooding linked to the River Arun’s tidal reach and heavy rainfall on Wealden clay.

Additional Calls to Action for Local Businesses

Local businesses — particularly those in flood‑prone areas of Pulborough such as Lower Street, Swan Bridge, Station Road and the wider Arun floodplain — are encouraged to take additional steps to protect staff, stock and operations:

• Review business continuity plans - Ensure plans include flood scenarios, remote working arrangements, and contingencies for supply‑chain disruption.
• Protect critical equipment and stock - Move valuable items, electronics and documents above ground level. Consider waterproof storage for essential records.
• Check insurance coverage - Confirm that policies include flood damage, business interruption and loss of earnings. Update valuations if needed.
• Prepare a staff communication plan - Make sure employees know who to contact, how to report issues, and what to do if access to the premises is affected.
• Assess access routes for customers and deliveries - Identify alternative routes if roads flood and communicate these clearly to customers and suppliers.
• Register for Environment Agency flood alerts - Businesses can sign up for tailored warnings to help protect premises and plan ahead.
• Engage with local resilience groups - Pulborough’s community resilience volunteers can support businesses with local intelligence, equipment and coordination during severe weather.

These steps help minimise disruption, protect livelihoods and support the wider community response during winter flooding.

County‑Wide Partnership Work Continues

Alongside public preparedness, West Sussex County Council continues to work with the Environment Agency, district and borough councils, water companies and emergency services to manage flood risk across the county.

This collaborative approach underpins the council’s flood strategy, which examines the entire journey of water through a catchment. Measures include natural flood management, improved drainage, and early identification of risk points.

Operation Watershed: Funding Local Solutions

Communities can also benefit from the council’s long‑running Operation Watershed programme, which funds local schemes designed to reduce flood risk and improve resilience.

A recent example highlighted by the council is in Ashurst, where more than £32,000 was approved to tackle long‑standing flooding on Honeybridge Lane and Pepper’s Lane. Prolonged rainfall regularly left both roads impassable, affecting access to the village and causing difficulties for residents and families travelling to Ashurst Primary School.

The project delivered:

• A new culvert
• Improved roadside drainage ditches
• Highway resurfacing to enhance water run‑off

Together, these measures are expected to significantly reduce local flood risk.

Cllr Erika Woodhurst‑Trueman, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said:

“While no organisation can completely prevent flooding, we continue to invest in measures that improve resilience across West Sussex. Projects like the one in Ashurst show how this funding can make a real difference for residents.”

Who to Contact During a Flood

If flooding does occur, residents should contact the appropriate organisation depending on the source:

• West Sussex County Council Highways – highway flooding, blocked drains, surface water
• Environment Agency – river and coastal flooding
• Water companies – sewer flooding
• Horsham District Council – local support and environmental health
• Emergency services (999) – where there is danger to life

Local Relevance: What It Means for Pulborough

For Pulborough, winter flooding remains a significant concern. The combination of tidal lock on the River Arun, saturated ground, and intense rainfall can lead to rapid rises in water levels and disruption on roads such as Lower Street, West Chiltington Road and areas near Swan Bridge.

The council’s guidance aligns closely with ongoing community resilience work in the parish, including riparian responsibilities, drainage maintenance and Operation Watershed‑supported projects.

More Resources

• For more information visit WSCC
• Operation Watershed
• Pulborough Parish Council Resilience Plan
• Read the Pulborough Post guide to landowner ditch maintenance here