MP Caroline Spelman attended a meeting about water shortages yesterday but there is also concern in many areas about wasted floodwaters.
As Environment Secretary, Ms Spelman recently announced Government grants - including one to Solihull of over £118,000 this year – to shore up its flood defences. She said that the local authorities would decide how the money could be best spent on bolstering their defences.
Information on the council website was not up-to-date, but the blue dots on the Environment Agency’s map appear to give cause for concern. The map indicates flood zones 2, 3a and 3b and other areas at risk from flooding in Solihull. It cannot be shown due to copyright restrictions but concerned readers may see it here. There is also information about earlier flood relief work done.
During the severe floods of 2007, some affected householders were alarmed by fears that insurance companies would no longer offer them cover. Co-operative Insurance Services, however, reassured their customers living in flood prone areas that CIS would honour their commitments.
The current agreement between the Government and insurance industry to provide cover to households at risk of flooding ends in 2013 and Defra is being urged to secure a new agreement as soon as possible.
Will the new British Standard prevent building on floodplains?
A local engineer sent news recently of a meeting about a new British Standard, BS 8533 Assessing and managing flood risk in development, which he thought might be interesting and relevant when a developer applies to build something that will later increase the risk of flooding elsewhere up or down stream. We read that BS 8533 provides developers and decision makers (local authorities and regulators) with practical assistance to analyse flood risk and select appropriate risk management solutions.
Locating new development in appropriate flood zones
All will hope that this is more resident-friendly than the region’s 2007 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) process which employs a Sequential Test – a process which actually seeks to locate new development in appropriate flood zones, based on the development’s vulnerability classification – in descending order of risk.
Ralph Road flooding
Have the problems of homeowners in Ralph Road, who had been unable to use their rear gardens for several years because of a blocked drain which runs the length of their properties been settled? Has ownership been established yet? Is it under ‘riparian law’, meaning that its upkeep is the responsibility of the residents.
An interesting chart of flood relief work undertaken in many SMBC areas shows that trial holes were dug in Ralph Road. One of the long-suffering residents said: “The council should investigate We pay our council tax, we pay enough. They have turned their backs on us.”
Marston Green flooding
Marston Green residents met to express concerns at plans for building 125 homes on Moat House Farm. These included the planned diversion of water from a flood plain into a brook in an area alsready affected by back gardens being flooded and there are real worries this will make things worse.”
River Cole monitored
The River Cole, whose rapid floods quickly subside, is monitored by the Environment Agency.
Its Solihull Lodge record – seen on 13/02/2012 – showed a tranquil period:
Flood alleviation measures have been taken
Following the 2007 flooding in Solihull, Shirley and Knowle measures were taken in 2009-2010. Severn Trent Water started working on the Streetsbrook Valley scheme, replacing ageing pipes and increasing the capacity of the sewer network. Large underground storage tanks have been constructed in several areas.
The grant to bolster Solihull flood defences should be administered transparently and the sum ring-fenced
The experience of Cockermouth residents, related by email, sounds a warning:
“Cockermouth was granted £3.2m towards flood defences. When (or indeed whether) we get this money is anyone`s guess and for that matter precisely how it will be spent are matters for which we have acute concerns.
“It seems that any project which has funding of any size immediately goes into what our old builder called “pc sums”. He meant “per cost sums” or things that they had forgotten to include when they calculated the original expense.”
This time last year the Environment Agency issued a warning for the River Cole in Hall Green and Solihull Lodge. Persistent rain during the night had increased the river’s water levels and properties in the Sarehole and Nethercote Gardens area were at risk of flooding.
With all appropriate measures taken, we hope that in the future the borough will be unaffected by flooding.
