Flood hit 1,600 homes in night, report reveals Inquiry in bid to avoid repeat
THE May bank holiday floods hit 126 roads and affected a staggering 1,600 homes across Birmingham, according to a council report into the emergency.
Hundreds of homes in Selly Park and Sparkhill were deluged and many streets submerged as an average month’s rain fell in just one hour on the evening of May 27.
And for residents in parts of Selly Oak and Selly Park it was the second time in two years that they found their homes deluged.
City councillors are now launching their own official inquiry into the floods to find out if enough is being done to prevent these disasters and whether the response from the council, public services and water companies could be improved.
In a report to the inquiry, the city council has revealed that it is investigating reports of flood damage at about 1,600 homes.
Members of the council’s transport and sustainability scrutiny committee are to launch their inquiry this Thursday.
The opening session will hear from residents affected including the Selly Park South, Flood Action Group and Selly Park Residents Community Association.
They will also receive expert evidence from the National Flood Forum, Severn Trent Water, the Environment Agency and council roads bosses.
The key areas are:
Three major flood events in ten years have left our community feeling angry, frustrated and vulnerable Selly Park Community Association
of investigation The main causes of the flood. The role of emergency services on the day, and how they worked together.
Work done with residents and communities on flood risk management.
How good was communication with residents?
Are flood risk schemes adequate?
The impact of development and the planning system.
In a report to the committee, the Selly Park Community Association said: “Three major flood events in ten years from the same set of causes have left our community feeling angry, frustrated and vulnerable.”
John Clayton, in a report from the Selly Park South Flood Action Group, added: “The urban drainage system needs to be maintained at maximum operating condition at all times.
“Even then, I doubt whether it would have the capacity to cope with rain storms of the magnitude of the May 27 event.” reduction