Flooding in Peterborough

July 9 - This evening’s heavy rainfall resulted in flash flooding in several parts of Peterborough.

Some homes and many gardens are flooded. In central city areas, the drainage system has been overwhelmed, resulting in severely flooded roads.

Earlier this week, heatwaves in Canada killed around 500 people.

These erratic weather events will become more regular as the effects of climate change kick in.

At a recent meeting of Peterborough City Council’s Growth, Environment and Resources Scrutiny Committee, the Cambs and Peterborough Independent Commission on Climate report was scrutinised. At this meeting, I made the following recommendation: ‘Alongside a carbon management plan, the city needs a climate emergency resilience and adaptation plan, which will consider in detail and address the impact that climate change will have on our communities.’

Friday’s flash floods have resulted in flooding at homes

that have never experienced flooding in the past. This is a wake-up call.

We must also question, given how severely and quickly parts of the city centre become flooded, the potentially lethal decision to build a football stadium on the embankment. The embankment is a high-quality floodplain that absorbs rainwater well. If this area is concreted-over, then the effects of flash-flooding will be far worse for Peterborough.

The climate crisis is the issue of our time. We must address these problems now, and take the huge steps needed to mitigate against the effects of climate change. If we do nothing the weather event that we experienced on Friday will become more and more common.

Cllr Nicola Day Deputy leader of the Green Group Peterborough City

Council