Bowls Club Devastated by Consecutive Storms, Calls for Flood Mitigation

On November 17, 2025, the Malmesbury Bowls and Social Club in Wiltshire found itself in a familiar and frustrating situation. Just over a year after Storm Bert caused £100,000 worth of damage to the club's pitch, the facility has once again been left covered in mud and debris following the impact of Storm Claudia over the past weekend.

The club's secretary, Alan Rice-Smith, expressed his disappointment, saying: "We entered this winter period hoping lightning wouldn't strike twice quite so quickly, but it has. It's a frustration, and a bit depressing for our hard-working volunteer members."

The club is now calling for a wider flood mitigation strategy to protect the town of Malmesbury, hoping that a "co-ordinated approach" can be taken to address the issue. With two major flood events in the span of just over a year, the club is clearly facing an uphill battle to recover and maintain its facilities for the local community.