Agency report on floods risk

3:19pm Tuesday 1st July 2008

ONE year on from the widespread flooding which devastated parts of England, the Environment Agency has released information about the work which has since been carried out in Redditch and surrounding areas.

The agency has inspected its flood defences and completed investigations and maintenance along main rivers.

It has assessed all affected areas to see what needs to be done to reduce flood risk and has removed blockages on the River Arrow to further improve the flow.

The removal of blockages has been ongoing as each period of high water brings flood debris down with it.

As a member of the West Mercia Local Resilience Forum, the agency chairs the Worcestershire Severe Weather Group and will be progressing multi-agency flood plans within this group in the near future.

It has also reported that a number of large broken down trees at Ipsley need maintaining to keep the channel clear.

An agency spokesman said: "Rivers in this area include the River Arrow and Bow Brook. In July last year, two properties flooded from designated main rivers, which we have powers to carry out work on.

"A further 150 flooded from surface water or from ordinary watercourses, where the local authority have similar powers to us. In Studley, two properties flooded from the main river.

"The flood defences at Beoley Mill worked and the wide floodplain on both sides of the River Arrow helped to prevent property flooding by storing floodwater in safe areas."

The agency reported that at 7.45pm on July 20, Studley Gauge on the River Arrow recorded a level of 2.12m above normal summer levels.

This is just below the level at which the agency would issue a severe flood warning.

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