Bath and North East Somerset Council’s Local Flood Risk Management Strategy will be considered at the Council’s Cabinet meeting on 2nd December.
The strategy outlines a 10 year plan for the management of flooding from local sources – surface water, groundwater, and ‘ordinary watercourses’ (commonly small streams and ditches).
It does not propose actions for the management of flooding from main rivers (including the Avon) as this is the responsibility of the Environment Agency, not the Council.
Councillor Anthony Clarke (Conservative, Lansdown), Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “This 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.
“This is an extremely important strategy that will help ensure a comprehensive and co-ordinated approach to local flood risk, clarifying roles and responsibilities and ensuring we manage risk as effectively as possible.
“Although flooding cannot be completely prevented, its impacts can be reduced and managed through investment and good planning.
“We have consulted widely on this, firstly with partners and stakeholders through the Strategic Flood Board and Operational Flood Working Group and then through a formal eight-week public consultation during September and October 2015.
“We received feedback from a variety of individuals, organisations and community groups which has been fed into this final draft.”
If approved by Cabinet, work will begin on the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy Action Plan.
This will include a range of actions, including identifying locations where drainage improvements may be required.
The final draft can be found here: http://bathecho.uk/1R6cO2Z
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.