The flooding of 2004 and 2007 made drainage a high profile topic. The effects were especially felt in parts of Foston and Gembling. The severe flooding in Gembling was responded to by the Parish Council's project to alleviate future flooding events with an improved drainage network. This significant effort has already been tested on a number of occasions by the excessive rainfall that has saturated the catchment area, and the project has proven its worth. Without this initiative there is little doubt that properties would have flooded and access to the village been denied a number of times.
The Parish Council continues to fulfill its commitment to maintain that part of the network that it is obliged to, with an annual programme every November/December.
Centre of the village looking west towards the village pond.
Centre village looking east
Centre village, new dyke directed south east.
New dyke northern boundary of the common
Old network not maintained by the owner, Sir Charles Legard. When riparian owners fail to respond to their obligations it degrades the whole network, lessens the effectiveness of the work done by others, and places properties at risk.