Homes made safe from flooding (From Wirral Globe)

Homes made safe from flooding

2:03pm Wednesday 1st August 2012 in News By Connor Marles

Homes made safe from flooding

Anxious home-owners in high-risk flood areas of Wirral have had their fears eased after their properties were secured through a grant from the Environment Agency.

Twenty homes in Wallasey, New Brighton, Leasowe and Heswall had suffered internal flooding during an extreme storm last year.

The properties met criteria to qualify for funding from the agency to pay for measures to prevent or minimise damage from future flooding.

Improvements included installing automatic airbrick covers and flood doors that prevent water from entering.

Wirral Council successfully applied for grants on behalf of residents, who saw an average of £3,200 spent on their property with any additional costs met by the home owners themselves or insurance companies.

The council also received £10,000 from the agency to help locate and map culverts on watercourses, particularly where they run underneath roads.

Blockages in these culverts have the potential to cause flooding to properties. Once the survey is complete, the authority will launch a programme of inspections and maintenance.

Councillor Harry Smith, cabinet member for Streetscene and transport, said: “Flooding can have a devastating effect on people’s homes.

“I’m delighted the council has been able to do something to help these 20 households who suffered so much last year and it is pleasing to hear that the work that has been carried out is providing peace of mind as well as practical protection against flooding.”

Readers are now able to report any flooding problems they might see or experience online via the council’s website at wirral.gov.uk The page also includes information about flooding and what to do in an emergency.