Plans to tackle flooding risk

A new plan to help combat the risk of flooding in Shropshire over the next century is being drawn up by environment bosses.

The Severn Catchment Flood Management Plan will look to tackle flooding issues in a bid to protect people living in and visiting areas alongside the River Severn. Climate change, rises in sea levels, urban development and land management are all being considered in the document.

And now - almost one year on from the devastating floods of last summer - people in the catchment area of the river are being urged to have their say on the document when it goes out to consultation next week.

The document, which focuses on the next 50 to 100 years, is being drawn up by the Environment Agency.

The flood management plan for the Severn covers a massive location, including the Shrewsbury and Telford area, stretching as far as Kidderminster, Worcester and Gloucester.

Project manager Jo Jolly said: “Flooding is a natural event, but issues such as climate change and the way we want to use our land affect flood risks and how we manage them.

“This study, using our technical experience, knowledge of the catchment and modern computer models, explains how flooding affects the catchment now and the policies we have set will enable us to make sure that we manage the risks in ways that will not cause problems for future generations.”

The document identifies the areas at risk and predicts how this might change in the future with scenarios such as climate change, urban development and changes in land use. It also looks at how to reduce the risk.

The aim is to set up flood risk management policies that the agency believes to be the most viable, effective and sustainable for the catchment area.

The document can be viewed at www.environment-agency.gov.uk from Monday. Responses should be sent to Jo Jolly, National Capital Programme Management Service, Environment Agency, Olton Court, 10 Warwick Road, Olton, Solihull, West Midlands, B92 7HX or severncfmp@environment-agency.gov.uk by July 4.