People across Bath and the surrounding areas are being asked by Bath & North East Somerset Council for their views on how to manage local flood risk.
Flooding can affect individuals, communities, businesses, the environment and the economy, which is why effective flood management is vital.
As part of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s commitment to taking action to reduce the risk and manage flooding it is preparing a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.
The Strategy is a first for the Council as part of its role as the Lead Local Flood Authority and deals with the management of flood risk and flooding from local sources – surface water, groundwater, and ‘ordinary watercourses’ (commonly small streams and ditches).
The document will help ensure a comprehensive and co-ordinated approach to local flood risk across the area for the next decade.
It will clarify roles and responsibilities for flood risk management, help inform all relevant authorities and communities about local flood risk, outline how it can be managed, and identify who is responsible for doing so.
A draft Strategy has now been published and Bath & North East Somerset Council wants to hear local people’s views.
Cllr Anthony Clarke (Conservative, Lansdown), Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “This is an extremely important document. Although flooding cannot be completely prevented, its impacts can be reduced and managed through investment and good planning.
“Part of the Strategy is to help people help themselves by understanding their own risk from surface water run-off and flooding.
“We want local people to help shape the Strategy, their views and local knowledge could make a big difference to the final document, which is why it is so important that as many people as possible give us their feedback.”
The draft strategy document is available online, in One Stop Shops, and in libraries.
Comments can be made by completing an online or paper feedback questionnaire.
To review the draft strategy document and give feedback online visit: www.bathnes.gov.uk/consultations/local-flood-risk-management-strategy.
Paper versions of the questionnaire are available at the Council’s One Stop Shops and libraries and can be handed in there.
The deadline for feedback is Monday 26th October.
All the comments received through the consultation process will be considered.
Where possible and practical they will be used to help inform revisions to the document. The aim is to complete the Strategy towards the end of 2015.
For more information about the Council’s flood responsibilities as Lead Local Flood Authority and the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy visit: www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/environment/land-drainage.
