Flood Protection Measures Set to Begin

Flood risk homes will soon benefit from new resilience measures getting underway in South Shields over the coming months.

The scheme will provide greater protection against the impact of flooding for 10 properties in the Stanhope Road and Richmond Road area.

The fully funded Flooding Property Level Protection measures will range from the fitting of flood resistant doors to air brick work following property surveys and assessments being carried out over the next few weeks.

The work is being delivered thanks to £152,000 in funding from the Environment Agency.

Councillor Ernest Gibson, Lead Member for Transport and Neighbourhoods at South Tyneside Council, said: "We know only too well the devastating impact of flooding on people and property, particularly at times of extreme weather, which is why we are working hard to reduce flood risk in our communities.

"We're delighted to have been able to secure funding for the Stanhope Road and Richmond Road area where properties have been identified as at risk of damage by the build-up of surface water.

"While we could never guarantee any particular area will remain flood free, this scheme will not only help to provide better protection in these at-risk areas but give local residents greater peace of mind."

The Council uses surface water flood modelling and a review of historical flood records to identify properties at flood risk.

Councillor Gibson added: "While this type of protection is not appropriate for every affected area of the Borough, it is a good option for these properties, which are at risk of localised surface water flooding.

"In line with our Flood and Coastal Risk Management and our Climate Change strategies we continue to look at what more can be done to safeguard our communities in future."

The property level protection work in Stanhope Road and Richmond Road follows similar schemes delivered in Reay Crescent, Elberfeld Court, Newcastle Road and Wuppertal Court and flood resilience works in Cleadon Village, Monkton Village and Fellgate over recent years.

Surveys and assessments are set to start at those properties identified and coincide with the Environment Agency's recently launched Flood Action Campaign 'Prepare. Act. Survive.'.

The campaign aims to support people to know what to do to protect themselves, their families, homes and businesses, from potential flooding incidents.

Leila Huntington, Environment Agency Operations Manager, said: "Flooding is a devastating experience for those it affects and building greater resilience into our homes, businesses and infrastructure forms one of the core themes of the Environment Agency's Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy.

"Alongside our partners, we want to empower people to take up measures that can help them address the impact that flooding has. Our experience shows that making small changes in the home, such as the use of property level resilience, can make a huge difference to people's lives when flooding takes place.

"Residents at risk should also prepare in advance by going online at www.gov.uk and signing up for free flood warnings. Alternatively, they can telephone the Environment Agency Floodline on 0845 988 1188 and find out what they can do to protect themselves and their property should the worst happen."

For further information about flood resilience work across South Tyneside visit the Council's website at www.southtyneside.gov.uk/article/1561/Flooding-and-coastal-risk-management

Residents and business can also get advice from the Environment Agency and download the Prepare. Act. Survive. flood plan at https://check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/plan-ahead-for-flooding