Cllr Charles Fifield made a representation at Cheshire West & Chester’s Cabinet Meeting on Wednesday 24 November 2021, regarding the publication of the interim s.19 Report into the 2021 Floods. Cllr Margaret Parker spoke on Cllr Fifield’s behalf.
Council Cabinet: 24 November 2021
Item 11: Cheshire West & Chester Section 19 Flood Investigation Report
I am pleased this report has come to Cabinet and whilst I appreciate it is an interim report so does not have the full level of detail as the final report, nonetheless I have some comments and concerns:
Firstly, whilst I welcome the Recommendations from the Flood Risk Action Group, could the Cabinet Member could expand further as follows:
(i) and (ii) In addition to the reference to the Canal & River Trust, the Council should also be in contact with Peel Ports in order that any strategy of lowering the level of the River Weaver during flood risk times can be carried out, as the Weaver empties into the Manchester Ship Canal at Weaver Sluices and Eastham Locks.
(iv) Traffic Management needs to be expanded in relation to areas such as Acton Bridge where the continued flow of traffic along the A49 was a serious health and safety risk for residents during the night of the flooding.
(vi) and (vii) The information on the Council’s website should also include signposting to “Flood RE” the joint initiative between Government and Insurers, to ensure residents can be insured.
Secondly, in 4.3.4 and 4.3.5 there is reference to works carried out but there is no reference to the works carried out in Acton Bridge and Weaverham, these were recently mentioned in a Council press release and I was assured by Cllr Shore last month the full information of both the proposed and carried out works would be provided.
Moving to the s.19 Report itself, I am disappointed that like the previous report this new report muddles up Acton Bridge and Weaverham. Acton Lane and the A49 Warrington Road are in Acton Bridge whilst Sandy Lane is in Weaverham. More worryingly however Sandy Lane is absent from this s.19 report, being subsumed within the Acton Bridge statistics with Weaverham simply referenced as:
“It is understood that flooding occurred in Weaverham. At present, further information regarding the source and
affected parties is not available.”
The Area Summary also omits Sandy Lane and despite both my ward colleagues Cllrs Paul Williams and Gillian Edwards being the only Council resource on the ground during and immediately after the flooding event and both being on the Flood Risk Action Group, the final summary only refers to vehicles being moved in Crowton, the Time Line for Acton Bridge is similarly spartan. This is in stark contrast to the multiple summaries and timelines for Northwich Town Centre.
Fundamentally the level of the River Weaver was too high and unless the Canal & River Trust, in conjunction with Peel Ports can reduce the level of the River, this flooding will happen again.
The Canal & Rivers Trust needs to commit to reducing the level of the River, either permanently by dredging or have a protocol in place that in the event of flood warnings, it can quickly reduce the level of the River, so as to allow the capacity for increased water flow. The Met Office are now forecasting a wet winter.
Cllr Charles Fifield
24 November 2021
(The Minutes and Papers of the Cabinet Meeting can be accessed here: Appendix 2 of Item 69 in Minutes)
UPDATE: Following the Cabinet Meeting on 2 December 2021 there was a Flood Engagement Session at the The Riverside PH, Acton Bridge, where residents were able to discuss the report and concerns with representatives from Highways and Localities from CWC and other bodies.
Cllr Fifield was able to see an updated draft of the Interim s.19 Report and was pleased to note the level of detail had been increased in the intervening period following his comments and detailed input from Acton Bridge Parish Council.
