Severn Trent to lead Flood Alleviation Forum. (Warwick & Leamington Liberal Democrats)

Warwick & Leamington Liberal Democrats <info@warwick-leamington-libdems.org.uk>

Severn Trent to lead Flood Alleviation Forum.

July 22, 2007 12:00 AM

More Flooding in Leamington

Only weeks after water had subsided from recent flooding parts of Warwick & Leamington were under water again this weekend.

In response to what is becoming an increasing threat. Severn Trent Water is to lead a Flood Alleviation Forum which will meet quarterly to report directly to representatives from Warwick District Council, Warwickshire County Council and the Environment Agency.

The aim of the forum is to: Establish what is causing the flooding in each area and what can be done to mitigate the risk of flooding in the short term. Identify and agree which organisation is responsible for each element of flooding. Establish what long term proposals each organisation has to alleviate the flood risk in each area.

Alan Beddow, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Warwick & Leamington welcomed the Forum. "I have seen a report that shows that of all properties affected across the County by floods earlier this month, 69% were in Warwick District. With the two rivers in our towns we are clearly at risk and it is important that our response involves all agencies involved. I am pleased that Lib-Dem Councillor Eithne Goode will be on the forum and she will be able to represent Warwick District, The County and Manor Ward in Leamington which was affected."

Alan added that he felt more needed to be done when planning new developments to consider the impacts of flooding. "We have seen lack of flood defences in the development of new homes at Benfords in Warwick and regular flooding of the aptly named 'waterside development' on the old Pottertons site. These developments all collect water and require drainage which have knock on effects across the whole system. This is one reason why I am nervous about the recent Planning White Paper which aims to simplify planning taking a lot of control away from local authorities who are clearly best placed to comment on plans in the areas in which they live and serve.