Your chance to find out more about vital flood risk work
With more than 30,000 properties thought to be at risk of flooding in Birmingham, a free event is being held to enable residents, businesses, voluntary or community groups, developers and those with a professional interest in flood risk to find out more about the important work being done to tackle this issue.
Birmingham FloodFest takes place on Monday, November 9, from 2pm to 8pm, at the Council House, in Victoria Square. People are welcome to drop in at any point between those times.
The event is being hosted by Birmingham City Council, the Environment Agency and the River Rea Catchment Partnership, while there will also be exhibition stands from organisations such as Severn Trent Water and the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust.
In addition to finding out more about the flood risk in Birmingham and plans to address it, the event will also mark the launch of the consultation into Birmingham’s flood risk management strategy, as well as the launch of the city’s surface water management plan and guidance to support new requirements for sustainable drainage on development sites.
, Cabinet Member for Development, Transport and the Economy, will make a keynote speech at 6.15pm to formally launch the flood risk management strategy consultation.
He said: “Although Birmingham has not seen the major flooding events which have affected other parts of the country, flooding does remain an issue for the city, often as a combination of river flooding, sewer flooding and surface water flooding.
“In fact, it is estimated that Birmingham has more than 30,000 properties at risk of flooding – and more properties at risk of surface water flooding from severe rain than anywhere else in the UK outside of London.
“This event is open to everyone wanting to find out more about flood risk, how it affects them, what we are doing to tackle it and how they can have their say in our plans through this consultation. I hope that as many people as possible will take advantage of this important opportunity.”
Mark Bowers, Flood Risk Manager at the Environment Agency, said: “We’re proud to be working in partnership with Birmingham City Council to tackle flood risk in the city.
“We’re currently working on a £28 million scheme in Perry Barr and Witton to protect 1,400 homes and businesses from flooding. We’re also working in partnership to improve and tackle flood risk along Birmingham’s hidden river, the River Rea. The Rea flows through Northfield, Stirchley, Selly Park and Bournville and over 2,000 properties are at risk of flooding in these areas.
“We’ll be there at Birmingham FloodFest and we’ll be able to tell you more about these projects – do come and see us.”
-ENDS-
Notes to editors
People can check if they are at risk of flooding by visiting the Environment Agency website at www.gov.uk/prepare-for-a-flood or calling Floodline on 0845 988 1188 to register to receive flood warnings.
