At a meeting of the Environment Health and Housing Committee in late 2020, councillors agreed a member working group be established to review flood risk and surface water management across the Borough.
Significant flooding events were experienced at various locations across the Fylde Coast including Freckleton, Clifton, Newton, Kirkham, Elswick, Staining, Cropper Road, Moss side and Greenhalgh on the 10/11 August 2020 which flooded property, businesses, roads and other lands. Flooding also took place at Park View Playing fields on 28th September 2019. Following the last two weeks of heavy rain, Green Drive Golf Course and Green Drive woodland walk, Lytham Hall, Lytham YMCA, Bryning with Warton and extensive areas of agricultural land throughout the Borough.
In order to tackle the increasing flood concerns, the committee agreed to establish a working group made up of several councillors representing different committees and areas of the borough to ensure that a wider representation and points of view are considered.
The working group will take evidence from Lancashire County Council as the Lead Local Flood Authority, the Environment Agency, United Utilities, Flood Action Groups, householders, farmers and landowners together with senior officers from Fylde’s Planning, Environmental Protection and Technical Services teams.
The working group will develop a comprehensive set of recommendations and proposals to improve the way surface water management in Fylde is undertaken to reduce flooding in the future and to ensure that arrangements for dealing/responding to emergency flood incidents in Fylde are robust and effective to provide reassurance to members, residents and landowners.
The group met in early January 2021 and agreed to engage with residents, landowners and communities who have been affected by flooding to gain your views on the issue in the borough and how it has affected you, your home and/or your business.
A short survey has been created which can be accessed at this link and we would encourage you to fill out this survey as extensively as you can, and also share the details with anyone else who you know has been affected.
Chair of the Environment, Health and Housing Committee Cllr Tommy Threlfall said: “I would encourage anyone who has experienced flooding in Fylde to either their homes or businesses to take part in the survey. Having recently visited some affected properties it really is one of the worst things residents will experience and we are keen to make a difference to help anyone who has been affected by it.”
