Lib Dems say “Act Now to Tackle Flooding”
The Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council have pressed for more funding and action by the county council to prevent flooding since long before the floods of last winter.
Cllr Stephen Cooksey, the Liberal Democrat Environment & Transportation Spokesperson at Surrey County Council said: "Obviously the Conservative administration at County Hall has no control over the weather and the amount of rainfall, but it could do so much more to prevent flooding in Surrey when heavy rain occurs.
"Action to prevent flooding from recurring at the 1105 wetspots identified by the county council has been too slow. It has been revealed in response to questioning by me, that of 1105 wetspots in Surrey only 68 will be resolved by implementing flood prevention schemes by the end of March 2015. This is just not good enough and Surrey residents deserve better.
"Also across the county there are many blocked gullies (road drains) that urgently need to be unblocked by the county council before we get more heavy rain the autumn and winter. Yet the most recent proposals for gully cleaning significantly reduce the overall number of gullies cleaned each year and reduce the frequency of cleaning of half of the county's gullies to once every two years.
"This decision will worsen an already bad situation. I have asked the Conservative administration at County Hall to increase the frequency of gully cleaning, which is desperately needed, but perversely it is doing precisely the opposite and is reducing the frequency, which is likely to increase flooding and flood damage to roads. I am urging the county council to act more speedily to tackle wetspots and to increase the frequency of gully cleaning as a high priority. A failure to act will only result in safety hazards on Surrey's roads where vehicles try to avoid standing water, where there is ice on the road as a result of cold weather or where there is damage to the road surface. This is not beneficial or cost effective in terms of safety or the high costs of repairing Surrey's roads."
ENDS
SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL
TUESDAY 14 OCTOBER 2014
QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED UNDER THE PROVISIONS
OF STANDING ORDER 10.1
CABINET MEMBER FOR HIGHWAYS, TRANSPORT AND FLOODING RECOVERY
(7) MR STEPHEN COOKSEY (DORKING SOUTH AND THE HOLMWOODS) TO ASK:
How many of the 1105 wetspots listed on the Surrey County Council website does the County Council plan to resolve by implementing flood prevention schemes in the current financial year to the end of March 2015?
Reply:
We expect to reduce the risk of flooding across 68 wetspots this financial year by implementing flood prevention schemes. The schemes vary in complexity and further works may be required in subsequent years before the full benefits are realised. In addition to these schemes, we are also progressing minor drainage schemes to address more localised issues across Surrey and expect to complete approximately 300 by the end of the financial year.
CABINET MEMBER FOR HIGHWAYS, TRANSPORT AND FLOODING RECOVERY
(13) MR STEPHEN COOKSEY (DORKING SOUTH AND THE HOLMWOODS) TO ASK: (2nd question)
The most recent proposals for gully cleaning significantly reduce the overall number of gullies cleaned each year and reduce the frequency of cleaning for 48% of gullies to once every two years. Can the Cabinet Member indicate when the large number of gullies throughout Surrey which do not appear to have had any attention for a considerable period of time and remain blocked will be cleared?
Reply:
Surrey has over 169,000 gullies which are all programmed to be cleaned to prevent them getting blocked. The recently introduced programme is designed to clean those gullies prone to blockages more frequently and provides an appropriate level of cleaning to those gullies that do not get blocked, thereby using resources efficiently. Whilst we are confident that the vast majority of the gully asset is known to us and included on the cleaning programme, it is perhaps un-surprising on an asset of this scale that we continue to identify new gullies on the highway network that haven't previously been cleaned. We are taking measures to address gaps in our knowledge however this is not a quick survey exercise and is likely to take several years to complete. In the meanwhile, Members are reminded that they can raise concerns over blocked gullies with their local highway team who will be able to ensure that they are added to the cleaning programme at the next convenient opportunity.