Free flood warnings for residents at risk in Teddington & Twickenham (Twickenham & Richmond Liberal Democrats)

Free flood warnings for residents at risk in Teddington & Twickenham

October 8, 2009 6:11 PM

flood pic • TEDDINGTON and Twickenham residents at risk of flooding can receive free flood warnings in a text message or by email.

The flood warnings are also available via telephone, pager or fax when residents and businesses sign up to the Environment Agency's 'Floodline Warnings Direct' service. A public exhibition will take place on 13th October 2009 in St Mary's Hall, Teddington from 3-8 pm to enable residents to come along and find out if they are at risk of flooding and to register to Floodline Warnings Direct.

Visitors will be able to get information on how to prepare for flooding and how to make their own flood plan. There will be leaflets to take away, information and maps on display and staff from the Environment Agency on hand to answer questions. The exhibition will also be an opportunity to learn about and comment on the Environment Agency's draft Lower Thames Flood Risk Management Strategy. Recommendations of the draft strategy include building flood diversion channels, improving weir structures, providing some localised protection for groups of houses and a range of other ways of managing the floodplain. Some areas of Teddington fall into the Lower Thames floodplain, which currently has 15,000 residential properties at a 1% risk of flooding in any one year.

Cllr Geoff Acton, Richmond Council's Cabinet Member for Environment, said: "Flooding is a very real concern in some areas of the borough and this is an important opportunity for residents to be involved in the consultation for the Lower Thames Flood Risk Management Strategy. I would like to encourage people to sign up to receive 'Floodline Warnings Direct' as it is a free and valuable service which will help safe guard all those at risk of flooding."

John Cooper, from the flood incident management team at the Environment Agency, said: "Living in the floodplain is never without risk, so it is vital that residents and businesses have plans in place to minimise the damage and impact which flooding can cause. It doesn't cost anything to register to receive Flood Warnings but it could make a huge difference in reducing damage to valuables if they are moved to safety."

The council will respond formally to the Lower Thames Strategy consultation by Friday 4 December. Residents can also sign up to receive Flood Warnings Direct online at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/38289.aspx

Richmond upon Thames Liberal Democrats: