A scheme has been completed protecting 119 properties in the community at significant risk of river-flooding. Measures installed include flood doors, demountable barriers, automatic airbricks and pumps. Some 92 per cent of eligible property owners signed up to the property flood resilience scheme, or PFR, and are now better protected.
In addition, a further 49 properties in Five Oak Green had PFR measures installed Tunbridge Wells Borough Council secured 'repair and renew' funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. This was targeted at homes affected by flooding during Storm Ciara in February 2020.
Following a council community engagement exercise where residents were invited to register an interest in installing flood resilience measures, the Environment Agency was invited to implement the scheme and was able to obtain more government funding.
Mark Douch, area flood and coastal-risk manager for the Environment Agency, said:
We're already seeing the impacts of the climate emergency in the UK. It's part of our flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy to help create climate resilient places that can adapt to future climate change.
Individual property flood resilience measures will help to minimise damage from flooding. By preventing or slowing the amount of water entering homes in the most frequently experienced floods, people will have more time to prepare.
The measures will also minimise water damage to allow people to get back into their homes more quickly following a flood.
You can check your flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings and keep up-to-date with the latest situation at https://www.gov.uk/check-flood-risk, call Floodline on 0345 988 1188 or follow
