Wokingham and surrounding areas are facing significant disruption after days of persistent, heavy rain caused rivers to burst their banks and flood several key roads, car parks and businesses.
Live on the ground, local reporter Paul King described rapidly worsening conditions on Friday afternoon, with floodwater rising across large parts of the borough.
Roads Closed and Vehicles Stranded
Mill Lane in Sindlesham has been closed after floodwaters made the road impassable. A car has been left stranded in deep water, highlighting the speed at which conditions deteriorated.
Nearby, the grounds of the Great Western Hotel – currently being used by the Home Office to accommodate asylum seekers – are completely flooded. Paul King reported water levels of around four feet, with the entire site submerged.
Flooding has also forced the closure of Winnersh Garden Centre, while directly opposite, the Showcase Cinema car park is underwater, leaving the venue effectively cut off.
One small piece of good news amid the disruption is that the Five Guys restaurant, due to open on Monday, has escaped flooding and remains unaffected.
River Loddon Bursts Its Banks
Several side roads close to the River Loddon have been badly affected. Landsend Lane remains closed near the Heron on the Ford, with floodwater covering the road. Other nearby routes are also impassable, particularly in low-lying areas close to the river.
Residents living near the Loddon and its tributaries have reported gardens, footpaths and access roads disappearing under water as ground saturation reached critical levels.
Why the Rain Isn’t Letting Up
According to BBC Weather analysis, the current flooding follows an extended period of persistent rainfall rather than short, intense downpours. When rain falls over several days, the ground becomes saturated and can no longer absorb additional water, meaning rivers rise quickly and surface water has nowhere to go.
Meteorologists have warned that winter and early spring rainfall patterns are becoming increasingly unpredictable, with wetter periods lasting longer. This significantly increases the risk of river flooding, particularly in areas like Wokingham with multiple waterways and flood plains.
This Raises a Question
Emergency Services Warning
Local emergency services are urging residents not to enter floodwater under any circumstances.
“Floodwater is deeper and faster moving than it looks. Entering it puts you at serious risk of becoming stranded or losing your life.”
Drivers are being reminded that even shallow water can disable vehicles, while hidden hazards such as open drains, debris and strong currents pose severe dangers.
What Residents Should Do
- Avoid all flooded roads and footpaths
- Do not attempt to drive through standing water
- Check on vulnerable neighbours if it is safe to do so
- Monitor local updates and weather warnings
Further rain is expected, and residents are advised to stay alert as conditions can change rapidly.
We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available.
It made me laugh when they installed the ev chargers in the carpark- I’ve seen floods up to the car windows there!
🤣
These are known flood area, why as nothing be done to prevent this from happening. Also not showing the Tesla charger area near the Premier Inn is flooded. That new IE a few years. Known flood plain. What due diligence was done on that. Could we see some plannin and better drainage to avoid repeat of this.
It is and always will flood. Its what happens when you build on flood plains. Nothing you can do to stop it and its been far worse than that. Imagine what it will be like when all new houses in that area are built
David you could build better drains but the water still has to go somewhere from drains especially when it’s the river flowing into the drains.
If only we had some boats nearby to navigate the water.
Paul Palmer When it was a fully functioning hotel they did have inflatables for emergency use.
Lynn Reed Yes and then they change the main reception area so you could get in and out without a boat
Erm why post the same photo of the car more than once?
Mandy Long and eventually decide to blank the registration number!
Trisha Bennett yes I noticed that too!
All the same places flooded again it’s never gonna stop happening
Happens all the time. Maybe invest on the roads more
Rach Victoria Tiplady
They may try to stop the flooding .
But mother nature finds a way every time .
In my geography lessons, over 45 years ago, I remember the teacher going, ‘No matter how pretty that building plot is down by the river, it’s best not to build on a flood plain.’
Same rules then, same rules now.
Paul Anthony That’s called common sense 😂. I don’t think Wokingham council have that 😳
Just driven from the M4 through Shinfield, all fields flooded, what’s going to happen when the houses on Hall Farm are built 🤷
The water will be displaced to areas which don’t currently flood, making it worse for everyone.
Keep building houses and new roads on the land what do you expect; the water has nowhere to go.
Will be all the sewers next
All the time their building on fields and flood plains this is what happens will be the sewers next
Always a BMW 🤣
Sindlesham Mill – I worked there as PA to owner 72-‘78 when it was a restaurant and night club – flooded then thigh high – I know, I waded few times) couldn’t believe the idiocy of building on a known flood plain – a very bad spot was further up the road towards the overhead bridge.
Mary McCallum my Mum worked at the nightclub,Rose Green?.
Esther Green I worked there day time but socialised in the club at night – doesn’t ring a bell.
Mary McCallum I used to to Sindlesham Mill nightclub in the later 80s had to take your shoes of many a time when leaving to wade through the water to reach your car or taxi , we often all helped push cars out of the water , it was all part of the night out back then 🥰
Vanessa Harvey they’ve ignored it for thousands of years. The only way to stop the land flooding is to widen the river removing all the structures including the mills/homes/ to allow the water faster access to the Thames and move the problem down river.
Motorists drive through flood water and finds that water is not compressible. Should be the headline!
Every single place floods every single year religiously…it’s literally known for it, stop trying to make it out like it’s a new thing
Row row your boat gently down a stream 
This area is a flood plane, this is nothing new. Showcase always floods and the surrounding areas.
BMW stands for bring more water
If only the council unblocked the drains.
Going to need a ferry for 5 guys burger bar..
That’s what happens when you build on the flood plains. Also building on green belt . The water has to go somewhere!!
So what the residents of this hotel turn up in rubber dinghies so they won’t worry about a bit of water lol 😆 😜
I wonder why building on flood plains is not a good idea!!
This is what happens when you build on flood plains!!
Here’s an idea, stop building flats and houses and spend more money in infrastructure 🙄 taking all the flood plains away for new build estates hasn’t helped has it.
Stop ripping up the countryside, tearing down the trees and sticking up concrete jungles then!! It’s not hard to grasp. Water has got to go somewhere
Frankie Guinane
And this is happening next door to where plans are moving forward for thousands more homes! It’s going to get so much worse!
Oh well wbc will never learn ….just build on everything just to fill your pension pots up….balls to what proper wokingham people think.flood plains!!! What flood plains …..dicks 😡
Showcase always floods!
Nothing in LVGV is being built on the Flood Plain.