Flooding at Rufford Ford

Nottinghamshire County Council has opened a further consultation on new proposals to potentially re-open Rufford Ford. This proposal includes traffic calming features to slow traffic approaching, combined with gates to close the Ford when water levels rise. The consultation opened on Friday, 19 December, and will run until Friday, 30 January.

Rufford Ford, located on Rufford Lane near Rufford Country Park, has been closed to motor vehicles since December 2022. The closure was implemented after police requested urgent action to reduce the risk of serious accidents caused by dangerous driving and escalating social media content filming. The initial consultation, held between December 2023 and March 2024, attracted 219 responses, including 194 objections and 25 expressions of support.

Many objectors suggested alternatives, with traffic calming emerging as a popular option. In response, the Council commissioned technical studies to explore whether the ford could reopen safely with robust measures in place.

After a thorough investigation, including surveys and design work, as well as financial considerations, the proposed scheme includes:

  • Three round top road humps 75mm in height positioned approximately 50m apart on both approaches to the Ford. These are placed much closer together than in traditional traffic calming schemes with the intention of slowing speeds to a minimum at the Ford. Round top road humps allow access by all vehicles, whereas chicanes and other ‘horizontal’ features can cause issues for longer vehicles.
  • Flood gates that are closed at pre-determined water levels, supported by electronic variable message signs on surrounding roads (A614 and A606). These robust gates, similar in design to those deployed on match days near Nottingham Forest’s City Ground would be closed when rising water levels make the ford unsafe to cross.
  • Permanent CCTV monitoring for safety and enforcement.

You can see the proposals in detail and find out how to have your say online at: Nottinghamshire County Council's consultation portal

The consultation will also be published at the site, in the Nottingham Post, and on the council's social media channels. Those wanting help with completing the consultation should email: tmconsultation@viaem.co.uk

Councillor Bert Bingham, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, said: "We are committed to finding a solution to the issues at Rufford Ford and are keen to get the views of the public on this new suggestion. I would encourage everybody to take part in this consultation and help us deliver a scheme that works for everybody."

For more information and to participate in the consultation, please email: tmconsultation@viaem.co.uk or contact Nottinghamshire County Council on 0300 500 8080. Any observations on the proposals should reach us in writing, either by letter or email, by 30 January 2026. If your comments are in the form of an objection to either or both elements of the proposals, please clearly state this and the reasons for your objection.

The full report on the previous consultation is available on the Council’s Democratic Management System pages