Residents urged to act against flooding
THE severe flooding in areas such as Bollington and Poynton has prompted the council to urge residents to do more to protect their homes.
Cheshire East bosses want farmers, landowners and other members of the community to clear ditches and culverts to improve drainage on their land.
The council itself says it will take measures on its land - such as highways and environmental teams stepping up gully cleaning and street sweeping.
It follows a prolonged period of intense rainfall on already waterlogged ground with river levels already high.
Other areas affected included Adlington and Hurdsfield and it is estimated more than 35,000 homes and businesses in Cheshire East are located in at risk areas.
The council says all property owners have a responsibility to carry out measures to protect their homes without causing any interference with neighbours.
Frank Jordan, Cheshire East executive director for place, said: “It is important that we all work together to better prepare for the kind of flooding events we have experienced in the borough.
“Residents have experienced severe flooding incidents and have seen damage to their property and been forced to leave their homes or have been seriously inconvenienced by the closure of local roads.
“Naturally, we want to do all we can as a council and flood authority to try to minimise that risk here in Cheshire East but we would urge all home and property owners to check the flood risk map which shows the identified flood risk areas in the borough.
“We are asking all landowners to take whatever steps they feel appropriate to help minimise the risk of flooding to properties, roads and footways.
“If necessary, the council does have the power to compel landowners to do this.”
The council and its emergency planning team are working with the Environment Agency, United Utilities, the Canal and River Trust to help landowners.
For more information on flooding visit: https:// www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ planning/flooding/ flooding.aspx.
COUNCILLORS desperate to see gullies cleared - see page 13.