MP vows to help flood victims

Buy photos » Vic Allison and Peter Luff MP outside the sandbagged door of one business still closed after the flood. (s)

DROITWICH’S MP Peter Luff has pledged to ease the strain on hard-working businesses who were again hit by flooding last month.

Mr Luff made the vow during a visit to town traders last Friday (July 13) with Wychavon District Council’s deputy managing director Vic Allison, who has responsibility for flood alleviation and engineering consultancy.

While on Queen Street, the MP heard first-hand from traders who suffered during the flash floods which hit the town during a summer storm on June 28.

The storm resulted in the second severe bout of flooding in Droitwich in the past five years following the High Street deluge in 2007 which devastated many local businesses.

“I really admire the resilience the traders are showing. On the whole I found people were inclined simply to blame the weather and not look for fault in the public bodies that have responsibility for flooding issue,” Mr Luff said.

“We talked with several business people about the measures they could put in place to protect their properties, such as the use of barriers and self-closing airbricks.

“Also we identified a need for landowners to keep their drains clear. They were pleased about the way Wychavon had helped them, for example with the provision of sandbags.

“However, there was still a feeling that Severn Trent should look again at what could be done to improve capacity in the drainage and sewage system in the area to reduce the risk of future flooding,” he added.

A meeting between represenatives from Wychavon, Worcestershire County Council, Severn Trent and the Environment Agency to discuss the flooding issues in Droitwich will be held in the coming weeks.

Mr Luff said: “Twice in two years is very bad. Many firms had made adaptations to reduce the impact of further floods, for example by putting down more resilient flooring, but if we can stop it happening again, or at least reduce the severity, we should.

“I look forward to hearing the result of the meeting and what action can be taken to make life less worrying for these hard-working businesses.”

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