Thousands of homes at risk of flooding

More than 5,000 homes in the county are at risk of being flooded if rivers break their banks after severe rainfall, it was warned today.

Research carried out by the Environment Agency last month has shown that properties along the valley of the River Soar, and homes close to the River Wreake, are the most likely to be affected should there be torrential rain.

The agency has produced details of areas at greatest risk in the hope residents will prepare themselves for the possibility.

It is also working with Leicestershire County Council on emergency planning to try to cope with heavy flooding. Some 2,200 of the threatened homes are near the River Soar, in the Loughborough area.

There are 1,000 properties near the Wreake in Syston at risk of flooding and a further 500 in Bottesford, with clusters in Sileby, Barrow, Cossington, Mountsorrel, Thrussington and Narborough.

In April, the Leicester Mercury reported that 7,000 homes in the city were at flooding risk, but latest estimations said the figure is now about 5,000.

Ian Smith is the flooding co-ordinator for the Leicestershire and Rutland Local Resilience Forum, which includes police, fire, ambulance and councils.

He said some of those identified as being at risk would only flood if rain fell in much greater volumes.

He said: "We don't want to panic people into thinking they might suddenly end up with 2ft of water in their homes, but there is a possibility.

"We all saw what happened in Gloucestershire in summer 2007 and the huge damage to property, which was not expected. We don't want to face similar scenes here."

Mr Smith said the flood risk figures related only to river flooding and not to water run off from rainfall elsewhere. He said information was being compiled to look at flood patterns away from main water courses.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: "We are constantly updating our flood information to give the public the most up to date information.

"Growing numbers of properties are coming into what we call 'at risk' areas because of the wetter weather we are experiencing through climate change and development pressure to build in flood plain.

"We want to make people aware of the flood possibilities, however remote they may be, so they can reduce the impact should the worst happen."

Councillor Mary Sherwin is chairman of a county council environment scrutiny panel which last month made recommendations on measures to cut flood risk.

She said: "We all know how devastating flooding can be. We have recommended that there is a strong presumption against any new development in flood plains.

"We are also saying the county council should support efforts to create new wetlands."

The committee's recommendations will be discussed by County Hall's cabinet.

The resilience forum is trying to recruit community flood wardens to raise awareness of the risk in villages across the county.

For more, call Ian Smith on 0116 305 6733 or e-mail:

ismith@leics.gov.uk