Flood forums to be held in Blackpool in response to storms

The first will be held on Monday at Moor Park Health and Leisure Centre on Bristol Avenue, followed by a meeting at Warren Manor, Warren Drive, on Wednesday, both between 6pm and 8pm.

Blackpool Council is proposing to set up community flood forums for Bispham and Greenlands wards, and Norbreck and Anchorsholme.

The move was one of the recommendations made by the Section 19 Report following flooding in November 2017 when around 300 properties in the north of Blackpool were inundated with water during a heavy weekend of rain.

But there was more flooding in Blackpool this week as Storm Ciara caused havoc including leaving parts of Carleton Crematorium under water and forcing the evacuation of 18 properties in Revoe.

Representatives of the Environment Agency, United Utilities, the council and ward councillors will be attending the forums which will also consider how £110,000 of flood prevention funding from United Utilities can be used.

A joint Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool and Lancashire Flood Risk Management Strategy has been written which went before the last meeting of Blackpool's tourism, economy and communities scrutiny committee.

Coun Maxine Callow warned many residents continued to live with the threat of their homes being flooded, especially with more development earmarked for green space in the town.

She said: "The people in my area felt very let down by United Utilities who didn't object to the building of 82 houses on Warren Drive.

"Residents say all this building isn't going to help, and we have climate change in our faces every time we switch on the television.

"Building all these houses is making it a lot worse. Ordinary people, including me, can't understand it.

"Residents are just worried that every time it rains there will be more flooding."

The flood forums will discuss issues including community emergency planning, closer working with partners such as the Environment Agency, and improving understanding of why flooding happens.

Coun Fred Jackson, cabinet member responsible for flood and water management, said: “I am pleased these forum meetings are going ahead and would encourage local residents to support them.

“It is important that concerns are addressed so that both residents and organisations can work positively together in order to better manage and understand flooding and related issues.”