Bonehurst Road flood

Image: © Ian Capper Taken: 25 Dec 2013

23 December 2013 saw substantial rainfall in East Surrey as a major storm crossed Southern England. The result was some of the worst flooding in the area for many years taking place on Christmas Eve, particularly around Horley where the clay soil, already saturated from rain a few days earlier, was unable to absorb extra water, resulting in the various streams in the area overflowing, along with the River Mole, with areas close to the river further downstream, such as at Brockham, Pixham, Burford Bridge and Leatherhead, also being successively inundated. All roads between Reigate/Redhill and Horley were blocked by flood water. This is the A23 Bonehurst Road in Horley the following day, where it crosses the Burstow Stream (see Image for closer view). The waters here have receded significantly since the previous day, Christmas Eve, when at around 4.00 the whole road was flooded up to beyond the cars parked in the distance, and water could be seen pouring onto the road alongside the parapet of the bridge over the stream, with even the raised centre of the road being flooded to a depth of at least a foot.

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