West Sussex Road Closed As Heavy Rain Brings Further Flooding

A road in West Sussex remains closed because of flooding as the county experiences another spell of heavy rainfall.

The A29 Shripney Road has been shut at the Saltbox Roundabout in Bersted since Monday due to what officials have described as “exceptionally high water levels”.

Bersted is among the areas covered by a Met Office yellow warning for rain throughout Thursday, with further heavy showers forecast.

Several flood alerts are currently in place across West Sussex, including for the nearby Aldingbourne Rife.

In addition, flood warnings have been issued in areas near Pulborough and Fittleworth.

Shripney Road had only recently reopened on 29 January following an earlier closure, but was forced to shut again just four days later as water levels rose once more.

West Sussex Highways said attempts to remove the water using tankers would be ineffective, explaining that any water cleared would “flow straight back into the already full rife”.

The council added that surface water from surrounding land is continuing to flood the road faster than it can be cleared.

The Met Office said there are “some heavy showers around” in the warning area, with “low impact surface water flooding” likely in places.