It's the climate crisis! For every 1°C we increase the temperature of the climate we see 7% more moisture in the atmosphere. This causes more intense rain and leads to a greater number of flooding events. Blocked drains don't help, but even if they were properly maintained they wouldn't be able to cope with a month's worth of rain in 12 hours. But don't worry, we've got a plan: we're going to delay doing anything until it's too late, then try to do something.
Emma is correct, people are worried in Far Cotton but they are also worried in St James too. The pipework on St James Road and surrounding streets cannot take heavy rain. In recent years on at least three occasions, the 1998 once in 200 year flood would have been replicated if it was not for the flood defences. River water has been dangerously close to the top of the defences. Yet we are sleep walking into believing all is fine and maintenance of drains, pipes and defences is falling behind, we have seen it. St James is the forgotten area largely down to lack of representation.
Maybe it is time to give up on flood plain developments. These properties will be increasingly uninsurable and property owners will have to let them go.
The alternative is to look at experts like George Monbiot for solutions that slow the flow of water downstream so reducing the risk of the floodplains being inundated every 5 years or so.
I concur with all previous comments. We live only a few meters from Billing Brook. When we came to live here 24 years ago, the banks of the Brook in front of our house was always kept neat and tidy. However, since 2004/2006 some half witted Conservative Councillor decided we should have a lake and a properly landscaped area. This was done at a great expense to the tax payers. We understand that the cost was over £100k. Thereafter, it was just ignored. We had an abundance of wildlife right in front of us. Now it is just a silted up swamped that get filled up with rain water in half a day when it rain heavily. It now becomes a flood risk. What a waste of tax payer money. Shame on you Council and Councillor!
I don't think the council has a front foot!
Everything they do is reactive.
It's the climate crisis! For every 1°C we increase the temperature of the climate we see 7% more moisture in the atmosphere. This causes more intense rain and leads to a greater number of flooding events. Blocked drains don't help, but even if they were properly maintained they wouldn't be able to cope with a month's worth of rain in 12 hours. But don't worry, we've got a plan: we're going to delay doing anything until it's too late, then try to do something.
Emma is correct, people are worried in Far Cotton but they are also worried in St James too. The pipework on St James Road and surrounding streets cannot take heavy rain. In recent years on at least three occasions, the 1998 once in 200 year flood would have been replicated if it was not for the flood defences. River water has been dangerously close to the top of the defences. Yet we are sleep walking into believing all is fine and maintenance of drains, pipes and defences is falling behind, we have seen it. St James is the forgotten area largely down to lack of representation.
Maybe it is time to give up on flood plain developments. These properties will be increasingly uninsurable and property owners will have to let them go.
The alternative is to look at experts like George Monbiot for solutions that slow the flow of water downstream so reducing the risk of the floodplains being inundated every 5 years or so.
I concur with all previous comments. We live only a few meters from Billing Brook. When we came to live here 24 years ago, the banks of the Brook in front of our house was always kept neat and tidy. However, since 2004/2006 some half witted Conservative Councillor decided we should have a lake and a properly landscaped area. This was done at a great expense to the tax payers. We understand that the cost was over £100k. Thereafter, it was just ignored. We had an abundance of wildlife right in front of us. Now it is just a silted up swamped that get filled up with rain water in half a day when it rain heavily. It now becomes a flood risk. What a waste of tax payer money. Shame on you Council and Councillor!
Re Billing Aquadrome I have one simple question. HTF did they get planning permission for extensive construction on an ancient floodplain? 🤔🤷