Thursday 11th October 2012

Residents and businesses across Derbyshire are being asked for their views to help Derbyshire County Council draw-up a new plan to help address flooding.


Previous and recent flooding problems in Chesterfield to be addressed by plans by Derbyshire County Council. Pic courtesy Sean Carrington

New powers were given to the county council, and others like it, by the Government to help prevent, protect and prepare against the effects of possible flooding in the future.

One of the first tasks is to produce a plan for Derbyshire called the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy. But first the county council wants to know what local people think.

A consultation has been launched to find out where the problems are and what should be done about them.

The comments will be used to help decide:

• The roles and responsibilities of the various organisations involved in preventing, preparing and protecting against the risk of flooding
• What these organisations wants to achieve, how they will do it and when
• What the costs and benefits are likely to be of any measures proposed
• Where the problems are and how they might be addressed
• How progress will be reviewed

The consultation and strategy will focus on the risk of flooding from the following sources:

• Surface water caused by extreme rainfall
• Small 'ordinary' watercourses such as ditches, streams and brooks. Larger main rivers such as the Derwent, Dove and Wye are still the responsibility of the Environment Agency and will be covered in a separate plan
• Ground water rising up from underlying rocks or water flowing from underground springs
• Drainage on roads.

Councillor Carol Hart, Derbyshire County Council's cabinet member for public health, (left) said: "Flooding is a serious issue. It can cause damage, disruption and destruction wherever it occurs.

"Increasingly heavy rainfall here in the UK over the past few years suggests the risk of flooding could be getting worse. That's why we need to help prevent, protect and prepare for the future."

She added: "We work closely with other organisations responsible for helping to deal with flooding. But people living and working in Derbyshire are also well-placed to tell us where there are problems and we want to know what they think we should be doing about them.

"We hope people will take part in the consultation which can be found online at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/floodrisk"

Questionnaires are also available from libraries. The closing date for responding is 7th December 2012.

A draft strategy will be available for comment next year.

There will be a separate plan for the city to be produced by Derby City Council.

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