A LAKESIDE resident has appealed to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to resume the dredging of rivers and cleaning of drains in the Redditch area.

Marguerite Day put forward her plea to Hilary Benn after the downpour in July, when Arrow Valley Lake threatened to burst its banks and several streets in the area were flooded.

Dredging work in the area ceased about 15 years ago, and it has been suggested as one of the causes for the devastating effects of recent high rainfall in Worcestershire.

Ms Day received a response from Defra which said: "It is often suggested that regular dredging of river channels would help reduce flood risk. Historically, dredging was carried out to maintain a navigation passage at low flows and this activity has generally ceased.

"The flood defence operating authorities undertake prioritised programmes of maintenance work on rivers, including dredging where appropriate.

"For example in some urban situations there can be excessive accumulations of silt in localised areas due to the presence of obstructions.

"But, this aside, dredging generally produces no noticeable benefit to reducing flood levels and there is often a limit to the amount of dredging that can sensibly take place."

Ms Day added: "In spite of this letter, I am of the opinion that dredging and clearing of drains is vital."

For more details, visit the flood management homepage at www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd