River Bourne, Addlestone

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River Addlestone Bourne should not be confused with the River Bourne, Chertsey.

The River Bourne flows through Addlestone, Surrey with its source at West End, near Chobham. At St George's College, Surrey, the River Addlestone Bourne joins with the River Bourne (Chertsey branch). The consequent River Bourne is a tributary of the River Thames joining the river at Hamm Court, Weybridge.

The source of this river is a series of springs in an area of heathland called West End which is a military training area which includes such areas as Strawberry Hill, Strawberry Bottom, Colony Bog, Lovelands Hill and Brock Hill.^[1] At Bisley, there is the River Hale Bourne which joins the River Bourne in West End.

During 13th/14th August 2006, the Chobham area suffered from severe floods due to the River Bourne bursting its banks. The floods were caused by heavy rainfall and thunderstorms across the region that resulted in flooded homes and businesses, power cuts and road closures. This caused the rainfall to run across the land to local watercourses and low-lying areas. Two months rainfall fell in one night and local watercourses were unable to cope with the run off so flooded adjacent land, buildings and roads.^[2]

There is concern from some people that the flooding in Chobham was exacerbated on a small scale by the use of Field 0081, Pennypot Lane, Chobham as a site for travellers who have covered that area with hardcore to support their mobile homes. This area used to be a water meadow absorbing some floodwater from the River Bourne which is adjacent to the site.^[3] Planning permission for the site was refused as this land was seen as providing a river corridor for the River Bourne.^[4]