8:26am Thursday 2nd August 2007
By Mike Foster
Time for sensible debate to deal with flooding in Worcester. Firstly, let me extend my sympathies to all those affected by the recent flooding. With the clean up in full swing, the news agenda
will move on. It is important that politicians like me do not forget what has happened and we learn the lessons that natural disasters like flooding teach us. Over the months, and yes, years ahead we
need to debate sensibly what we can do to reduce the risk of repeat floods.
Many people will have strong opinions on what we should do – but in this article I want to, at the very least, put some ideas forward for debate. I say debate at a time when people are
demanding action because some of the options may not be popular. But I believe that we as a local community need to agree on a way forward.
I think there is now a strong case to look again at a major new river crossing that can free up traffic to get to the west of Worcester and avoid the city centre New Road bridge. But I know there
will be opposition from those concerned about the environmental impact. How do we as a community marry these two competing demands?
If the temporary barriers are to be erected with certainty along Hylton Road, should we as local community accept the problems caused by road closure while the barriers go up? Are we as taxpayers
willing to contribute more towards flood prevention? This means more hard flood defences, but also more frequent maintenance of brooks and streams.
Do we stop house building plans locally, as some have advocated? Or do we instead build new houses with rainwater capacity and reuse in mind? Personally, I think there is a strong case for storing
rainwater to be re-used in toilets or for watering the garden. Given that this time last year we faced hosepipe bans, I think there is real merit in water storage. It also means that less water will
run into sewers during a flash flood situation, meaning fewer people will have their homes at risk.
It is important that broad agreement is reached on these issues so that we can make progress. Having visited countless homes flooded recently, as well as businesses, and having seen our county suffer
a battering in the floods there is no need to remind me something needs to be done.
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