Council sets out proposals to tackle impacts of future flooding

Next week Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Cabinet will view proposals detailing the Council’s plans to help reduce the risks posed by flooding on residents, businesses and communities in the borough.

The Council will receive feedback from the multi-agency Flood Risk Action Group (FRAG), which was set up earlier this year.  It has identified a range of actions which aim to reduce the impact of future extreme weather, particularly in the coming winter months.

Over recent weeks Council teams have boosted their flooding preparation works programmes and concentrated their efforts in high-risk areas and for communities in Northwich, Acton Bridge and Weaverham.

This has involved large-scale grid cleaning, drainage jetting and sweeping operations to keep drainage systems and road surfaces as clear of debris as possible.

Some locations have been brought forward in works schedules, including B5133 Hooton Road, Farndon, and work this week at Chester Moorings.

The Council’s Highways Service gully (grid) annual cleaning programme, which aims to clean a total of 86,650 grids across the borough at least once before March 2022 is also ahead of schedule.

The Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Strategic Transport, Councillor Karen Shore said: “The storm in January affected dozens of people, causing immense damage to people’s lives and property. Alongside our partners, the Council is investing in support schemes which will help the borough recover from flooding and prevent further damage in the future.

“Serious flooding can happen at any time and climate projections suggest that extreme weather will happen more frequently in the future. Flooding and its resulting damage can be reduced through the recommendations proposed in this report to Cabinet.

“The report highlights the work being undertaken across the borough, working in partnership with the Environment Agency, United Utilities and the Canal and Rivers Trust, and makes recommendations which aim to prevent future flooding.

“Ahead of this winter, we would encourage residents to play their part for their community by preparing well for winter and wet weather by clearing leaves from nearby grids, removing items that might be stopping water from draining away down grids.”

FRAG’s recommendations include plans to establish a temporary flood resilience plan for Northwich this winter and work with the Environment Agency on installing flood defence barriers.

The report also includes, in collaboration with Environment Agency and United Utilities, additional pumping equipment, which is now being tested in Northwich.

There is a recommendation to carry out a modelling exercise for the Northwich area which will offer a better understanding of how to tackle future flooding scenarios.