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Action plan to stop repeat of tragic Walsall flooding

An action plan aimed at preventing a repeat of last year’s flooding incidents which saw one person die and more than a 100 homes affected is set to be approved.

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Water rescue teams in Lichfield Road, Rushall, Walsall in last year's flood. Picture: @wmaspeterbowles/West Midlands Ambulance Service

Members are expected to give the green light to a flood risk management strategy at a meeting of Walsall Council’s cabinet tomorrow.

In May last year, 82-year-old Evesham man Peter Harnwell tragically died when his car became submerged in water in Lichfield Road, Walsall, when flash floods hit the region.

The nearby Ladypool burst is banks and sent water gushing into the road and collected under the railway bridge.

During the heavy rainfall, more than 120 properties in areas including Aldridge, Streetly, Bloxwich and Willenhall suffered internal flooding.

A report to cabinet says the authority is looking to secure external funding to further boost flood alleviation measures to tackle future incidents.

It also said that prior to the May 2018 flash floods, the council had assisted in bringing about road closures and instructed highways maintenance contractor Tarmac to undertake emergency gully cleaning, be ready to issue sandbags and have on call operators ready to respond where required.

Following the incident, council teams provided support to affected residents, cleaned up hotspot areas, carried out reviews of its gully and street cleaning and held meetings with other agencies to exchange information and learn lessons from previous incidents.

The authority will now continue to develop its action plan to bolster defences in the event of future incidents.

A spokesman for the council said: “On May 27 2018 the weather was characterised by warm, humid conditions, localised thunderstorms accompanied by intense rainfall.

“The whole borough was affected by rain fall but some areas were particularly affected by the localised intense rainfall such as Streetly, Aldridge, Bloxwich and Willenhall.

“In addition members will recall the tragic incident that happened on the A461 Lichfield Road.

“Working with partners, the council will continue to explore opportunity to bring forward flood alleviation measures where it is able to do so.

“The council will continue to develop a ‘Flood Incident Plan’ that will comprise a review of the known flood hotspots to further refine incident planning pre and post flood event.

“It is recommended that cabinet support the development of the plan, setting out aims, objectives and roles for the council and its partners before, during and after a flood event.”

By Local Democracy Reporter Gurdip Thandi

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