FLOODING - Lib Dems Demand Action (Surrey Heath Liberal Democrats

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FLOODING - Lib Dems Demand Action

January 19, 2007 12:00 AM

Our Council needs to pay better attention to basic highway matters such as clearing drainage ditches!

The flooding chaos suffered by many residents in August 2006 after freak rainfall, and again in November after prolonged spells of rain, is not a "one off" warns Lib Dem Councillor Judy Douch.

Cllr Judy Douch, who speaks for the Liberal Democrats on environmental issues at Surrey Heath Borough Council, believes that much more needs to be done to combat climate change. This includes making preparations to tackle adverse weather at a local level.

Cllr Douch told Focus: "I warned our council two years ago that our ability to cope with emergencies such as flooding was inadequate. Unfortunately I was proved correct. In short, the organisations responsible for helping residents cope with floods failed to do their job. The response to the floods in August was muddled, and showed a total lack of co-ordination, and forward planning. "

"I welcome the forums that have been held subsequently to try to develop a better response in future, and hope that this will be more than a PR exercise."

Cllr Jill Catley agreed; "Our Conservative Council, embarrassed by its previous inaction, has now started to tackle the issue of emergency planning by providing a few sandbags to some residents whose homes are in 'flood plains'. However, until someone is prepared to take ownership of, and responsibility for clearing the many drainage ditches in this area, then we will continue to have a huge problem. Some landowners have filled in their ditches to gain extra garden. Planners have allowed building over the ditches in the past; and allowed new developments without adequate provision for surface drainage. I believe the Council must tackle this problem now.

The inability of Conservative controlled Surrey Heath Borough Council and Surrey County Council to tackle this problem is appalling. They need to stop 'squabbling' and get on with it - clear out our ditches and culverts. Liberal Democrats will continue to press for action to ensure that our homes are protected as far as possible through proper flood management planning.