Flooding - September 2008
Coping with the effects of flooding is difficult in any event and having your own home flooded can be devastating. Unfortunately, this is the experience which many of my constituents have had to go through following the recent heavy rains. And, for some, this is not the first time it has happened.
During the flooding I visited residents who had been affected. I was particularly impressed with the way they responded so quickly and effectively on the day of the floods. There may be lessons from this which the City Council and others can take on board.
In other parts of the Northfield constituency I have helped residents to form flood action groups. These groups have strengthened their voice and helped make sure people get the practical information they need. They have also helped bring neighbours together to help each other with any further flood incidents that may occur.
The intensity of rainfall experienced earlier in September was obviously exceptional but unfortunately with the climate changes that we are now experiencing, the signs are that such exceptional events are now happening more frequently than they used to.
This means that the volume which drains were originally designed to deal with when they were built – sometimes many decades ago – may not always be appropriate to the new situation we all face. All the agencies involved, including the Council, need to be much more thorough in ensuring that they are checked and cleared out regularly. It also means that drainage issues need to feature much more prominently when considering new developments.
I am asking Birmingham City Council to investigate why the flooding was again so severe in this area this time and what actions are to be taken to improve things for the future.
There are not necessarily easy answers in all cases but my own conversations with residents during the floods suggest that there are a number of drainage and flood protection issues which can and should be urgently tackled.
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