Half of plans to combat floods not implemented

JUST half the measures proposed to combat flooding in the city two years ago have been implemented, it has been revealed.

Details emerged as city councillors gave the go-ahead for a committee inquiry into the floods of Sunday, May 27.

A report into the flooding of Selly Oak and Perry Barr in June 2016 made 80 recommendations to prevent or lessen the impact of further flood.

But only 41 have been completed, with a further 36 on course for completion soon and one cancelled as not needed.

But two flood defence schemes in Harborne Queens Park and Selly Park North, the latter being carried out by the Environment Agency at Pebble Mill, are overdue.

The city was swept with floods following torrential rain two weeks ago, with Selly Oak, Edgbaston and Harborne badly hit. Some properties which had only recently been restored following the 2016 flood were wrecked.

Councillors have now launched a full inquiry into the floods and measures to prevent further problems to run alongside an official Environoment Agency investigation.

Cllr Roger Harmer (Lib Dem, Acocks Green) told council colleagues they a caught in a flooding “jaws of doom” between climate change, meaning more severe storms and poor infrastructure to move the water away.

Cllr Karen McCarthy (Lab, Selly Park and Bournbrook) said: “Given this was the second time in two years that parts of this city experienced a ‘once in 100 year flood event’ we really do need to find better ways to describe these flood risks.”