FRODSHAM could be at risk of flooding on the same scale as that which has hit parts of the West Country this winter, the Town Council has been warned.
Cllr Ruth Redhead told the council she had carried out some research on the likelihood of flooding in the town and had discovered that a considerable number of homes could be flooded.
She had relatives in the South West and knew of the stress they had suffered this winter. But it could have happened just as easily at Frodsham and she wondered if the council should be setting up some sort of contingency plan.
The town could be at serious risk from a combination of wind, rain and tide similar to that which had affected Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.
“I don’t know why so many houses have been built on the flood plain at Frodsham in the past but they have been,” she said. “Can we put in place some sort of plan to help the people who live in them in the event of flooding here? Can we at least ensure that no more houses are built on the flood plain?”
She wondered whether to council should lay in supplies of sandbags in a similar way to the supplies of grit they had obtained in case of snow and ice in the winter.
Cllr Lynn Riley said the council could certainly bring the matter to the public’s attention. But the sort of work necessary to remove the risk of flooding was something Frodsham Town Council could not do.
However, there were lots of things individual householders could do to prevent or reduce the risk of flooding in their homes.
Frodsham, she pointed out, was not just at risk from “water falling from the sky” but also from Frodsham Marshes, the Weaver and the Manchester Ship Canal There could be a serious situation if the Ship Canal was ever breached.
Cheshire West and Chester Council had supplies of sandbags ready in case of flooding and these would be made available wherever they were needed – including Frodsham.
Cllr Riley also noted that many of the houses at risk in Frodsham were occupied by older and more vulnerable people.
Cllr Andrew Dawson said Frodsham Marshes were in far better condition since responsibility for drainage had been taken over from the Environment Agency by local landowners. He believed the town would do better to find a “Frodsham solution” to the problem as the local community would have a strong interest in making sure it worked.
Chairman Cllr Mark Warren said the council would look further at the matter. He believed they should be talking to neighbouring councils to come up with a community resilience strategy.
