Revealed: Details of plans to stop county's flooding misery

The Environment Agency (EA) has published information about its much-anticipated strategy to reduce flooding in the Severn Valley.

The issue has been a growing concern in recent years, with thousands of homes and businesses from Shrewsbury, Bridgnorth, Ironbridge, and a host of villages, all facing frequent flooding misery – largely as a result of the River Severn.

A six-week consultation on what is dubbed the 'Severn Valley Water Management Scheme' (SVWMS) opened earlier this week, and runs until May 21.

It reveals new details explaining how the EA plans to try and tame the River Severn, and stop the flooding pain.

While no firm plans have been developed for where the interventions may come, the EA's 'scoping report' reveals ambitions to combine "traditional engineering and Nature-based Solutions (NbS)".

The paper explains that new flood walls and embankments could be created, while natural management – such as tree planting, 'leaky dams', and alternative farming are all being considered.

The report also outlines the scale of the task ahead – with a need to store the equivalent of 65 billion litres of water to protect homes during flooding.

Listing potential methods for tackling the issue the EA said: "The SVWMS aims to devise an innovative and nature-positive programme, bringing together the best of both NbS and traditional engineering approaches.

"This will provide sustainable outcomes that are specific to each location and will deliver real value for investors and partners, local communities and the natural environment.

"Working with partners and communities, we will investigate interventions including engineered solutions such as the construction of flood storage areas and embankments; natural flood risk management measures that slow the flow of water upstream such as tree planting or the creation of leaky dams; alternative farming and land management practices and other enhanced storage options across the catchment."

The EA report outlines how the issue of flooding is unlikely to go away – with flooding events becoming more frequent in recent years,

It says: "Significant floods in recent decades have caused damage to homes and businesses and have impacted local infrastructure and disrupted travel.

"Flooding in the winter of 2019 and 2020 resulted in over 1,500 homes being flooded across the Severn catchment."

It added: "Whilst existing flood risk management assets and schemes prevented over 14,500 homes from being flooded, there are still communities and urban centres that remain at risk.

"Flooding events are also becoming more frequent with widespread flooding occurring again in 2021, 2022 and during this past winter 2023/2024.

"So far across this autumn and winter we have seen 10 named storms, with storms Babet, Gerrit and Henk causing particularly high level of flooding and damage through the Severn Uplands."

The report outlines how across Mid Wales and Shropshire thousands of homes are at risk.

It states: "A number of areas in the Upper Severn Catchment, particularly on the River Severn and River Vyrnwy, fall within the highest flood risk category.

"In total, over 2,600 homes are at risk of flooding along these rivers. Many homes, businesses and critical infrastructure have been hit severely by storms in recent years, particularly in Shrewsbury, Welshpool and Newtown."

The EA has urged people to take part in the consultation, saying: "We know that the communities along the River Severn have a wealth of experience of how adverse weather conditions can impact them, and we want to create a scheme that takes all views into consideration.

"We would love to hear from the local communities and stakeholders, as well as anyone who might be affected by water management of the River Severn, and we'd like to understand your views on the scheme to obtain the best possible outcome.

"We would like to hear your views on the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme and its Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report so that we can create a scheme that truly encompasses and supports sustainable development and addresses local issues and opportunities."

Helen Morgan, Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire, has also urged people in the county to respond to the consultation in the proposals – and make sure their voices are heard.

She said: "Flooding has a huge impact on North Shropshire, particularly for those along the Welsh border at the confluence of the Severn and the Vyrnwy. Communities here have been waiting a long time for progress on flooding and therefore it’s good to see the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme moving forward.

"It’s important that communities now engage in the consultation and make their voices heard. People who have lived around flooding for years understand it well, and know that small changes to farmland and drainage can have a major impact.

"Please do share your views if you are impacted by flooding. It’s really important that communities of all sizes make their opinions known if we want a long-term plan that works for local people."

For more information about the project visit https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/west-midlands/svwms/

People wishing to respond to the consultation can do so by visiting https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/west-midlands/severn-valley-water-management-scheme-sustainabili/