Flood risk fear over back garden sheds

Sheds and fences in a Black Country street have been branded a flood risk - sparking fears residents will be ordered to take them down.

Pensioner Frank White, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, spends hours every day doing woodwork in the shed at the back of his home in Kinver Street, Wordsley, and son Ian says he would be upset to lose it.

Mr White and his neighbours have received letters from the Environment Agency advising them of concerns over Wordsley Brook, which runs at the back of their homes. Officials claim residents need permission to erect "sheds, footbridges and fencing" which would obstruct the flow of water if the brook burst its banks.

Mr White, aged 78, makes wooden rocking horses and furniture in the shed as a hobby.

Ian said the work acted as "therapy" to help his father cope with his disease, adding: "It takes his mind off it."

His father built his shed more than two decades ago and disputes the Environment Agency's claims.

The 47-year-old said: "It's crazy for a bloke who is going to be 79 this month, who has got Parkinson's and works in his shed every day to be worried he might have to take down his shed.

"A shed isn't going to make any difference to the water coming through.

"He's upset and doesn't know what to make of it at this stage."

Agency spokeswoman Lyn Fraley said: "We need to make sure Wordsley Brook flows freely to minimise flood risk for the community as a whole. It is difficult to access the brook along Kinver Street to inspect it.

"We are asking residents to contact us so that we can visit them and assess whether there is a problem or not.

"If there is, we will work with them to try to reach a solution that works for them as well as keeping the community safe from flooding.

"However anyone who owns a riverside property needs to be aware of their rights and responsibiities, and what they need our consent for.

"We have published guidance in a booklet called 'Living on the Edge' which can be found on our website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk"

Another Environment Agency spokesman Sam Todd, said any new applications for works within eight metres of the watercourse would need consent from the agency.

Existing sheds and structures would be assessed on a "case by case basis", he added."

Meanwhile, flooding misery for families in Kingswinford and Wall Heath will be tackled using government cash awarded to Dudley council.

Homes in Metfield Croft, Kingswinford, and Hinsford Close, Wall Heath, will be the first to benefit from the work.

Dudley Council will receive £145,000 of a six-figure Government grant to tackle flooding hotspots across the Black Country.

The cash comes from the Early Action scheme organised by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Around £82,000 of the grant has been earmarked to tackle other risks across Dudley as part of the Surface Water Management Plan.