Hundreds back petition calling for urgent action to tackle Stafford flooding
Hundreds of people have backed calls for a halt to construction projects near Stafford’s major waterways following the latest bout of flooding.
Community group Friends of Stafford has also urged Staffordshire County Council, which is the area’s lead local flood authority, and the Environment Agency to investigate how current and previous developments are affecting river levels around the town, as well as calling for a commitment to “a clear and open plan to implement flood prevention measures”.
So far more than 700 people have signed the group’s online petition calling for “urgent flood action for Stafford”.
The latest deluge last month affected town centre areas including Victoria Park, while swans were seen swimming across Doxey Road. The Picture House in Bridge Street, next to the River Sow, was flooded for the second time since October 2019.
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Concerns about flooding and drainage have been raised by councillors and residents in response to a number of major developments in Stafford in recent years, including new housing estates on land off Fairway and Beaconside.
Friends of Stafford spokeswoman Lorraine Conkey said: “Stafford has been the victim of flooding for many years, however the frequency and scale of each flooding event are becoming more common and more damaging. Yet major construction projects still continue.
Marshes
“We live in a town built on marshes, which is the reason Stafford came into being historically. The marshland was part of the natural defence system surrounding the castle and village.
“Many feel powerless. We need as many people to sign the petition as possible, we have to try and do something to stop the building of more housing estates in the area, regardless of Central Government’s housing directive of new builds in each borough.
“The group understand there are other contributing factors such as climate change, lack of dredging, removal of trees and the paving of green areas in residential properties.”
A flood action group has been set up in Stafford and is seeking Government funding to tackle a long-running issue in the Sandon Road area. Representatives from Staffordshire County Council, the Environment Agency and a member of Sandon Road Flood Action Group have met virtually with Stafford MP Theo Clarke to discuss flooding in the town.
Last year Ms Clarke organised a debate in Parliament to highlight flooding in Staffordshire and called for a more co-ordinated response to future problems.
She said: “The major problem in Staffordshire is who to call when your house starts to flood. We all know who to call when a crime is being committed, when someone falls ill or if there is a fire, but there appears to be no answer for flooding
“I am urging the Government to create an emergency three-digit flood phone number – for example, 555 – that everyone in our country knows to call if they are experiencing a flood emergency.”
