Flood and Emergency Plans for Bourton on the Water Parish Council

Flood & Emergency Planning

History

A Flood committee was
established by the Parish
Council in August 2007 as
a response to the severe
flooding experienced in July
that year.

The prompt establishment of
this committee enabled
Bourton to be one of the first
communities to contact the
County and District Councils,
the Environment Agency and
Thames Water and arrange
walkabouts of the areas
affected by floods. These
on the spot visits definitely helped Bourton get everybody’s attention at a time when many Cotswold communities were going to be competing for funding to create flood defences.

As a result, a Partnership was set up with GCC, CDC, the EA and the Parish Council which identified 3 major projects to help reduce the risk of future flooding locally. These are the projects that we’ve all been working on for the past 3 years, namely the bund (or raised bank which retains flood waters behind it) on the Rissington Road between Clock House and Birdland, the bunds in the Conigers and Naight meadows, and the extension of the main Broadlands-Nethercote flood water ditch and associated works. The aim of each project was to create a safe area where flood and surface waters can be stored without threatening property, and the last phase of these works to the south of Pockhill Lane completed in autumn 2010.

These efforts were recognised when this Committee won the category for the Best Example of Partnership Working at awards organised in 2009 by the EA to acknowledge flood efforts in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire.

Following completion of the Partnership works, the Parish Council now deals with any flood related matters on an ad-hoc basis within its monthly meetings and the Flood Committee has been disbanded.

Where we are now

During the heavy rainfall in 2012 when much of the country was again flooded, the new defences appeared to work well in containing any high waters in safe areas. The bund at Birdland was very effective as the river again over-topped at this point but, contrary to what happened in 2007, these waters were contained with the storage area between the river and the road. Some residents seemed concerned that the footpath was flooded but this was designed to happen, on the basis that there is an alternative footpath on the other side of the bund, which can be used.

The Council has completed its annual review of the Flood Plan and the equipment has also been checked. The flood defences are scheduled to be inspected early 2013 at which time the committee will consider whether anything else needs to be done to provide further protection for the village against flooding.

Further images taken by residents can be seen by clicking here.

EA Flood Warnings

Residents whose properties are in a flood zone or which are at risk of flooding are encouraged to sign up to receive free flood warnings from the Environment Agency by calling 0845 988 1188 to register for this service.
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Flood Plan

Following guidance from CDC’s Community Resilience Dept and GRCC, and in order to provide future Parish Councils with a reference document which would assist in their response to any local flooding events, a Flood Plan has been prepared which sets out a procedure for any such eventuality. The Plan is a Working document which will be revised periodically to take account of any new developments relating to flooding issues, and to incorporate information regarding additional flood defences that may be put in place at any point in the future, or improvements to existing defences. Residents may view a copy of the current Flood Plan, in which all personal details have been removed by clicking on the following link.

The Flood and general Community Emergency Plans are regularly reviewed and updated, and this will include a review of the paper document, as well as a check of all flood related equipment and a walkabout and inspection of the various flood defences around the village.

Click here to download a copy of the Flood plan for the village.

Click here to download a map detailing the location of works completed by the Partnership Project to reduce flood risk in the village.
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Community Emergency Plan

At the request of CDC’s Community Resilience Dept, the existing Flood Plan was subsequently expanded to provide information which will enable the current and future Councils to respond to various types of emergency that could affect this community. This plan also includes a section which sets out details of the preparations that Council is making to respond to adverse winter weather, such as heavy snow or ice. Residents can view a copy of the restricted version of this Community Emergency Plan by clicking on the following link.

Click here to download a copy of the Community Emergency Plan

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Environment Agency

The Environment Agency is an executive non-departmental Public Body responsible to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Its principal aims include the protection and improvement of the environment, the promotion of sustainable development and the provision of Flood and Coastal Risk management services. The Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management team works to help protect communities against flooding and to minimise the risks caused by any floods that do occur. It also provides advice to the public on how to reduce the likelihood of flooding as well as post-flood guidance. The EA is responsible for establishing maps showing the extent of areas at risk of Flooding (Flood Maps). Residents wishing to view information and guidance provided by this agency should click on the link below.

Click here to visit the Environment Agency Flood Web pages (opens in a new window)

Property owners can contact the EA's External Communications Department (thewest@environment-agency.gov.uk) who can provide details of any local flood defences, and send details to insurance companies for their consideration.
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