Severe weather impacts businesses and infrastructure in West Berkshire

In September 2016, severe storms caused a month’s worth of rain to fall in three hours, leading to significant flooding in West Berkshire. Properties at the Bartholomew Street and Pound Street junction were inundated, and roads and railways were temporarily affected. During the storm, a business owner whose groomer business was located in Bartholomew Street said she was likely to be out of business until mid-October.

The weather event caused widespread property damage, including homes losing power and a road being lifted following a direct lightning strike. The incident highlights the vulnerability of local businesses to extreme weather events.