County set to rethink flood plans
COUNCILLORS are to consider a new strategy which aims to better manage the risk of floods causing damage to property, and threatening people’s lives and livelihoods.
The joint Lancashire Local Flood Risk Management Strategy 2021 to 2027 outlines how Lancashire County Council (LCC), Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council plan to work together and with other flood risk management authorities over the coming years to manage local flood risks.
The three councils are the designated Lead Local Flood Authorities for the county, with a duty to ensure all organisations which have a responsibility for managing water coordinate their activities, and work with local communities, to reduce the risk of flooding.
A new report to LCC’s cabinet - due to be held on Thursday, November 4 - outlines that the new strategy is needed to ensure the councils’ approach is consistent with the new national flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy introduced in September 2020 by the Environment Agency.
The new strategy also outlines work to ensure new development is sustainable and resilient, good communications are maintained, and that partners are best placed to secure investment to better protect businesses and communities from flooding.
A five-week public consultation in February and March produced 175 responses.
County Coun Shaun
Turner, cabinet member for environment and climate change, said: “Sadly many people in Lancashire know only too well how awful it is for their home, or the business which they rely on for their livelihood, to be inundated by flood waters.
“Flooding can happen for a number of reasons, whether due to drains, sewers or sea defences becoming overwhelmed, rivers bursting, pumps shutting down, or groundwater levels rising over a prolonged period of poor weather, and it is a growing problem, with severe weather events becoming more common and unpredictable as our climate changes.
“We have made a great deal of progress as a county since our first flood risk management strategy was published, and those communities which have been worst affected in the recent past are now among the most informed and best prepared whenever severe weather is forecast.”