Enderby EYE

the village ...and beyond

Wardens signal community approach to flood planning

05 November 2008

The increasing threat of climate change means that extreme weather events are happening more frequently - and a list produced by The Environment Agency identifies Enderby as an area at risk of flooding.

With the risk of floods across the country becoming more regular, it is essential that local people are prepared before any flooding occurs in this area.

Among other nearby areas identified are Whetstone, Croft, Narborough and Littlethorpe. In each area, it may only a specific part of the community that is at risk, not necessarily the whole village or suburb.

Leicestershire, along with Leicester and Rutland, has developed a new approach to planning and preparing for this possibility here.

The focus now is on tailoring flood plans to meet the needs of individual communities, with local residents becoming more involved and specially-appointed Community Wardens visiting houses and businesses in their area in the near future.

Community Wardens will become an integral part of their area's Community Flood Plan, working with local residents to identify problems and issues, helping local people to prepare for flooding and acting as the link with the public authorities' emergency planners.

Community Wardens are being drawn from people who hold particular roles in their local community, mainly Neighbourhood Watch representatives and key members of community groups. They will receive special training and will be visiting homes and businesses in their area over the coming months, distributing leaflets which provide practical advice and help people to help themselves. The wardens will also obtain information on vulnerable people and buildings, or any specific problems which might worsen a flooding situation.

The Community Wardens scheme will be officially launched on Thursday, November 6, in Belgrave, Leicester. The local Community Warden for Belgrave will be present as well as Leicester City Council's cabinet member for regeneration and transport, Patrick Kitterick, along with members of the Local Resilience Forum and flood officers from the city and county councils.

The scheme has been organised by Leicestershire and Rutland's Local Resilience Forum (LRF), the partnership body which coordinates the planning for emergency situations occurring in the area. The LRF is made up of a range of public authorities and agencies including the Police, Health, local councils, the Fire and Rescue Service, the Ambulance Service and the Environment Agency.

Ian Smith, the LRF Project Manager for Flooding said:

"We have seen an increasing number of cases of flooding across the country in the last year or so. If serious flooding occurs in Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland in the future, we want people to be well prepared and our plans to meet the specific needs of individual communities. This can only be achieved by involving local people, raising their awareness of what to do and building on their local knowledge.

"Community Wardens have a key role to play. They will be knocking on people's doors over the coming months, introducing themselves and providing advice and information on flooding. We hope that local people play their part in this scheme – a prepared community is a safer community."

To find out more about becoming a Community Warden, those interested can telephone Ian Smith on 0116 305 6733 or e-mail: ismith@leics.gov.uk.

Associated links:

» The Environment Agency (Flood)

» Leicestershire County Council

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