Groundwater flooding exhibition to be staged in South West
A joint exhibition aimed at people and communities who have been affected by groundwater flooding is being staged by the Environment Agency together with Dorset, Wiltshire and Hampshire Councils.
The Agency and the various councils have joined forces to host the event on Saturday, 7 June between 10am and 4pm at the City Hall, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, Wiltshire.
The exhibition is part of a series of drop-in events that the various organisation have been hosting over the last couple of months. More than 100 people attended a previous event in Salisbury.
Feedback from the earlier events suggest people would like more information about the practical ways in which they can protect their homes and to assist people who are applying for the Government funded ‘Repair and Resilience Grant’. Staff from the Environment Agency and local councils will be attending and giving more information about these grants.
There will be more than a dozen suppliers and consultants in attendance offering a broad spectrum of services from advice on engineering through to supply of flood protection equipment including pumps and barriers.
Guy Parker for the Environment Agency said:
We are working closely with the local authorities and other partners to ensure people are fully aware of the flooding risk from groundwater and can get advice to reduce that risk. Groundwater flooding does represent a significant hazard and groundwater conditions can also exacerbate surface flooding,’
A major risk from groundwater flooding is that it does not always appear where it might be expected, rising up through cellars and floors rather than coming in through doors. It can also cause a problem with drains and sewers where they are overwhelmed.
Cllr Peter Finney, Dorset County Council Cabinet member for environment and economy, said:
It is important that people who have been affected by flooding have access to support and advice to help prevent or reduce flooding in the future. We are working partnership with The Environment Agency and local communities to find practical ways for residents to protect their properties. I encourage anyone who thinks that groundwater flooding could be an issue to go along and find out more.
Residents can check flood warnings at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood or the Environment Agency’s live flood warning map at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods
They can also call Floodline on 0345 9881188 to get the latest information.
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