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Beaudesert and Henley in Arden Joint
Parish Council (JPC)
Report on the floods of 20th July 2007
By: The JPC Working Party which investigated the floods
March 2008
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Floods July 2007
 Background
 Recommendations
 Action List
Appendices:
1. Report by W J Burton
3. Flooding in Stratford-on-Avon District recovery plan
July 2007
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1. Introduction
Following the floods of July 2007, the JPC instigated a working party to report
back to the council recommendations that should be followed through to
minimize any further flood problems for the future. The working party
consisted of Stephen Thirlwell (Chairman), George Atkinson, Stephen Dorow,
Laurence Marshall and George Matheou. The Working Party met 4 times and
received information from the following residents that were not members of
the working party:- Peter Scholes and Mike Hammerman. The working party
also commissioned a report from Mr W J Burton – an hydrography expert.
This report was funded by both SDC and WCC. We are indebted to both
those councils for funding this report as well as the assistance given to us by
David Tiley of SDC.
It was hoped that by the time this report was published that the Environment
Agency report would have been published so that a detailed response could
have also been given in tandem to this report. A copy of the SDC interim
report on flood recovery is attached for information. Currently SDC is working
with the Environment Agency, Severn Trent and Warwickshire County Council
and will publish in April 2008 a report which will prioritise and offer a
coordinated plan to direct future flood prevention. That report will be made
available to the Parish Council as soon as practicably possible.
It is understood that a report will also be forthcoming from the District Council
which will be looking to the future regarding flood defences etc.
This report should be read in tandem with the official report by Mr Burton (see
Appendix 1)
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2. Floods July 2007
Background
Prior to Friday 20th July 2007, The Parishes of Beaudesert and Henley in
Arden had suffered continual light rain for nearly 36 hours resulting in the
surrounding land being saturated. It should be noted that both parishes, for
want of a better word lie in a valley. During the evening and night of Thursday
19th July the rain intensified, the River Alne was reported to be ready to break
its banks on the morning of Friday 20th July. The rain did not ease off, the
result of which is the River Alne broke its banks by the Bird in the Hand right
down and past the Warwick Road Bridge. The flooding was caused by both
pluvial (water running off the land) and fluvial (rise in the river) flooding
resulting in flooding of the Stratford Road north of the town, Millfield Court, the
High Street in general from the Northern entrance down to St Johns Church,
the majority of the houses and businesses on the east of the High Street from
the northern entrance down to St. Johns Church, Beaudesert Lane and Prince
Harry road. There was also concern that houses that back on to Jubilee Play
area in Castle Close could also flood. It was also reported that the River Alne
suddenly dropped late Friday with a suggestion that some type of flood gates
had been opened.
It is known that the floods started to ease during the evening of Friday 20th
July with part of the flooded High Street and Beaudesert Lane being
accessible by foot late Friday evening. At 08.00 on Saturday 21 st July the
mop up had started.
It is also known that 42 private dwellings have applied for and received via
SDC the grants that have been made available via the government and the
Red Cross. The number of dwellings could be higher as not everyone might
have registered for these grants. This figure does not take into account
businesses that suffered as well as community assets like the Library and St
Johns Church.
During the working party’s work programme the drains on the High Street
have been monitored.
It is also reported that garden chairs and decking have had to be removed
from the River Alne to alleviate possible future flooding.
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Recommendations
There will no doubt be plenty of debate over the next few months, on whose
responsibility certain tasks are, never mind calculations about the odds on
further flooding. It should be remembered that flood defences within Henley
are based on a 1 in 100 chance. Since Easter 1998 Henley has had 2 floods.
There will probably be debates on the cause i.e. is it because of global
warming. In the light of this 2 facts should be remembered, 1) our weather
climate is on the change temperatures are rising, in January 2008 the outside
temperature has been 12 degrees C if not higher! 2) Henley has had major
floods twice since Easter 1998.
The recommendations have not only looked at how to be better prepared, but
also looked at being proactive in ensuring that work is done in the future to
alleviate flooding problems, but planned maintenance work is built in as a
standard for the future.
It is therefore recommended to the council that the following actions are
undertaken and followed through :1. That the Environmental Agency install an early warning system by way
of an alarm that is audible through out the town when flooding is a
probability. Such an alarm should be positioned within the centre of
the town at a high level.
2. That the Parish council ensure both businesses and private dwellings
have sufficient sand bags in preparation should such an event reoccur
in areas that are prone currently to flooding
3. The Environmental Agency carry out regular de silting on the River
Alne
4. The Environmental Agency confirm what flood alleviation programme is
current for the River Alne.
5. The Environmental Agency survey and carry out both de silting and
improvement works upstream from Henley on the River Alne with the
aim of ensuring that the river flows freer and is not allowed to become
over burdened with debris.
6. The County Council carry out a continual planned maintenance
programme of the drains to ensure that the drains are clear of debris.
7. The County Council look to improve road side drainage so that drains
can take future demand.
8. The District Council increase the road side gulley cleaning to ensure
that debris is not deposited in the drains.
9. The Parish Council look at recommendations to divert the pluvial
waters running off Jubilee play area.
10. The Parish Council follow through and gain the assistance of the
National Flood forum to ensure that Henley’s risk of flooding is
lowered.
11. Through the District Council work is undertaken to educate those
people who have culverts and gullies within their boundaries and are
kept clear of obstruction
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12. Stratford District Council to upgrade their planning guidance to ensure
that all new builds within the current 1 in a 100 chance of flooding are
flood resistant i.e. all services above the possible flood height such as
power points positioned higher, water resistant plaster used etc.
13. In the next JPC news letter both email addresses and postal addresses
for companies that offer flood defence protection are listed.
This report should become a key working document for the JPC and modified
as future flood reports become available to ensure that the risk of flooding is
minimised within the town. It should be used as a proactive working tool to
look forwards. Each agency and council should be written to separately to
ensure that work is undertaken,
Copies of this report along with copies of Mr Burtons report to be sent to the
following:








J Plaskitt MP for his assistance in getting these tasks outwith the
JPC’s control undertaken
J Maples MP – for information only - as Henley will be in the Stratford
on Avon constituency after the next General Election
Chief Executive of WCC
Chief Executive of SDC
Portfolio holder for Environmental Services SDC
Head of service Environmental Services SDC
David Tiley for info SDC
Minister for the Environment
Chief Executive of the Environmental Agency
January 2008
Postscript February 2008
At the Parish Council Meeting on Monday 4th February 2008, the council
heard from a Henley resident, Mr P Scholes, who with Parish Councillor
Goodman walked the River Alne from Warwick Road towards Wootton
Wawen past the mill. Photographs were also presented showing the state of
the river. It was reported that the River is silted up, with apparently no
maintenance work being undertaken, where the river has made islands there
is evidence of a build up of rubble and brickwork. The Council resolved to
write to the Environment Agency demanding a site visit to alleviate these
problems which are impeding the flow of the river.
As an ‘aide memoire’ there follows an action list of what is needed. Funding
and responsibility for this is outwith the control of the Parish Council. It is
imperative that the Parish Council takes ownership of this action list and
continually reviews and updates the actions to ensure that the work is
undertaken with in Henley. It needs to be an agenda item at every Parish
Council meeting
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Flooding Action List
Action
Responsible
Agency (ies)
Outcome
Installation of Flood Alarm - Warning
Environmental
Agency
Parish Council
To
inform
and
prepare Residents
Short Term Fix
Environmental
Agency
Severn Trent
Long Term fix To
ensure that the flow
of the River Alne is
not impeded
Environmental
Agency
Severn Trent
Environmental
Agency
Severn Trent
Warwickshire
County Council
Long Term Fix To
ensure river remains
free flowing
Long Term Fix To
ensure that river
remains free
To
ensure
that
drains work to the
max
to
aid
clearance of water
To ensure that the
drains can cope with
future demand
October 2008
Improve
performance
June 2008
Sandbags – to ensure that all
properties that are prone to flooding
have sand bags
Survey and remedial action River
Alne – to include de silting, debris
clearance through the parishes of
Henley Beaudesert and Wootton
Wawen
Continual planned maintenance and
de silting of River
Survey the length of River Alne from
source to reaching the Avon, to
improve flow
County Council to completely clear
all drains of debris and to introduce a
planned maintenance schedule of
continual cleaning
County Council implement an
improvement programme on drains
primarily on all roads that have been
flooded and secondly through out the
town
District Council to increase road side
gulley cleaning to ensure that debris
does not get into drains through out
the whole town
Flood prevention Jubillee Play area
to ensure that pluvial waters running
down the land can be diverted from
house close by
Parish council to take advice from
National Flood Forum to ensure that
it can learn from best practise and
build further to ensure future flooding
is minimised
Working with District Council to
ensure that those people that have
culverts and gullies that run through
their land that culverts and gullies
are kept clean
Planning Guidance and Policy to be
upgraded to ensure that future build
is flood resistant
Next Parish Newsletter to list web
sites, telephone numbers and
addresses of all companies that can
offer personal flood defences.
Future News Letters to carry updates
on the flood work
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Warwickshire
County Council
Stratford District
Council
drain
prevention
Target
completion
Date
October 2008
May 2008
October 2008
October 2008
May 2008
October 2008
October 2008
Parish Council
Parish council
Long
prevention
term
June 2008
Parish Council
Stratford District
Council
Short
prevention
term
June 2008
Stratford District
Council
Long
prevention
Term
Parish Council
ongoing
October 2008
April 2008
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Appendix 1
_________________________________________________
W J Burton
BSc CEng MICE MCIWEM
24 The Moorlands
Malvern Wells
Worcestershire
WR14 4PS
Telephone/Fax: 01684 567928
E-mail: wjburton@ukonline.co.uk
_________________________________________________
STRATFORD-ON-AVON DISTRICT COUNCIL
FLOODING AT HENLEY-IN-ARDEN 20th JULY 2007 - (with Addenda)
General Report
1.
Heavy rainfall over the Henley-in-Arden area on 20.07 combined with
saturated ground conditions related to antecedent rainfall brought about
extremes of both overland, over-highway and watercourse flow resulting in
the internal flooding of a large number of properties in and around the town.
Councillors Marshall and Matheou gave me a conducted tour of the affected
area on 18.09. Councillor Marshall provided a list of questions which had been
raised with him. Councillor Matheou provided a report on lessons he felt were
learned from the flooding. Residents of Prince Harry Road have also promised
a report about flooding in their area.
2.
On the conducted tour we first visited the area to the north of Henley around
the Bird-in-Hand public house. The R.Alne here had failed to pass all its flood
flow through the twin arch road bridge. There had been much heading up at
the bridge and water had overflowed onto the road, to then use the roadway as
a supplementary flow channel. Some considerable depth of flooding on the
road developed, up too 500mm in parts. High velocity flow was also reported
in the over-highway flooding. The river channel itself to the east of the road
was naturally and greatly overflowing its banks. All was a clear demonstration
of the magnitude of the flood flow passing through the area. The extensive
flooding prevailed in similar form down to the town boundary at the old
railway viaduct and where the Henley Flood Alleviation Scheme (FAS) works
commence. Various minor obstructions and deformations to the river channel
were observed en-route. Whilst significant at low flow they would have been
of little consequence or impact at the high flood flow prevailing on the day.
3.
A check with the Environment Agency has confirmed that they have yet to
fully analyse the flood return period of the event and also the performance of
their flood alleviation works. My own analysis of, albeit smaller, watercourses
around the area has found that their catchments were struck by rainfall of at
least 1 in 200 and perhaps up to 1 in 1000 year return period. 78mm of rain
falling in about 6 hours was recorded at Alvechurch, upstream of Henley.
Consequent flood flows observed in watercourses around the area have been
two and three times what would be expected from their catchments for the 1 in
100 year flood event. It is therefore likely that the R.Alne suffered a similar
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fate. The FAS works for example would have been designed to the normal
Agency design standard of the 1 in 100 year flood flow, with some allowance
or freeboard added to cover for some deterioration of the channel capacity and
defence height with time and for the possible adverse impact of climate
change. In practice this is often achieved by adding 20% to the design flood
flow and then adding 300mm to the design height of the defences. Clearly the
flow which passed through the area on 20.07 was perhaps 100% greater than
the scheme design flow and overwhelmed the FAS works. Minor changes to
the catchment area consequent on recent development, golf course landscaping
etc are barely relevant once the whole catchment area has become so saturated
and very run-off responsive to rainfall, as it did on the day.
4.
At Millfield Court, just within the confines of the FAS works, the defences
were overtopped and the ground floor of the building internally flooded. The
ongoing new development on the opposite bank is, if current planning
guidance is being followed, taking place on land which is above the 1 in 100
year flood level. It may well be therefore that areas of the site, and areas to be
occupied by new houses, were flooded by the greater flow prevailing on the
day. Existing recent development in the vicinity, with ground floor levels set
to the longstanding Agency recommendation of 600mm above the 1 in 100
year flood level, was not internally flooded. Lower properties, cellars and
basement car park areas though were naturally flooded.
5.
The same situation prevailed on the High Street through the town. Newer and
higher floor level properties survived; older, generally lower property was
internally flooded. The problems in the High Street were further compounded
by overland flow from the west side of the town running down to the High
Street and migrating more to the east side. Gully capacity and highway
drainage capacity is only capable at best of dealing with 1 in 5 year type flows.
Whether a few gullies are blocked or not working again is barely relevant
when flows far in excess of 1 in 100 year are looking to drain away to the
river. The river at the same time is also backing up or tide-locking the various
outfall runs of highway drainage systems anyway. The flooding problems
experienced are also further compounded in water quality terms by the same
rainfall completely overloading the public foul and combined sewer system.
This is only designed to deal with 1 in 10 year type flows, so foul
contamination of any floodwater is an unfortunate consequence. As the river
moves over to the east from Beaudesert Lane downstream, so did the flooded
area. A large number of quite newish properties in Prince Harry Road were
therefore flooded before the river escaped the confines of the town.
6.
In summary then the area generally seems to have been struck by a flood event
of extreme magnitude, with overland, over-highway and watercourse flood
flows in excess of any present day (or recent FAS) design or performance
standard. It is of statistical and climate-change concern to the author that
similar was said in relation to the floods of Easter 1998 only 9 years ago!
Highway drainage at best is only designed to cater for 1 in 5 year order of
flow; water company sewer systems at best contain 1 in 10 year order of flow
and are supposed to bring about no internal flooding of property, in their own
right, up to the 1in 30 year horizon. Environment Agency design standards and
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flood alleviation scheme standards at best consider Q100 order of flow with
sometimes a 20% increase to allow for the possible adverse impact of climate
change and then perhaps 300mm height added to any defence level. All pales
into insignificance when in the area of Henley, flows of perhaps 100%
increase over the 1 in 100 year flow have occurred.
7.
Moving on to the difficult area of consideration of improvement options and
lessons learned, the first thought that springs to mind might be to “do nothing”
in the light of the apparent statistical “extremeness” of the event. This may
indeed be the Environment Agency’s eventual response in relation to the FAS.
In practical terms though there is certainly much merit in seeking to achieve
the best hydraulic performance from what drainage exists in the area. The
culvert/bridge structures are in the main in good order and of reasonable
capacity. Those within the FAS have been thoroughly checked and capacityenhanced accordingly. The same cannot be said of most of the river channel
sections outside the FAS extent. Clearance and resectioning is required
throughout. Much however is in individual riparian ownership making the
process difficult to promote or enforce. The provision of flood attenuating
storage upstream of Henley does not look to be an option. There are no readily
available areas to be topographically or hydraulically able to provide the
necessary vast flood storage volume to have any significant effect on peak
flood flow. Even several thousand cubic metres of mobilised flood storage
would only contain or delay a 1 in 100 year order of flow for but a few
minutes - and the flow that passed through on 20.07 for even less a time. The
Agency would also have considered upstream storage as an alternative or
supplementary to the FAS when it was originally promoted.
8.
The highway drainage system and the public sewer system merit similar
attention to achieve the best hydraulic performance. The highway drainage
system looks to be in reasonable order. There will always be certain gullies
and lengths of pipework in need of more attenuation than others. There are,
unfortunately, rarely any proper records of the highway drainage system. The
county council should be approached however to review their system and
maintenance procedures accordingly. The same may be said of the public
sewer system and the water company, but the water company generally hold
very high quality records of their system. It should be born in mind that most
of the piped drainage systems in Henley do appear to work reasonably well
under “normal” heavy rainfall event conditions.
9.
Probably the most economic option for Henley is to deal with extremes of
flooding such as that experienced on 20.07 by building in flood “resilience” to
the properties affected and implementing, as best as can be achieved with the
short response times prevailing, a town flood warning and evacuation
procedure. In refurbishing the flood-damaged property, consideration should
be given to using flood resilient construction and materials, for example new
concrete floors with stone or tiled finish, no skirting boards, and using
waterproof plaster and wall finish up to some reasonable flood level. All
electrical, plumbing, communication and security services should be routed
and terminated above flood level. Non-return valves should be fitted to foul
drainage connections and consideration should be given to the fitting of flood
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gates or barriers to all external doorways, windows and airbricks below flood
level. Fixed furniture should be kept to a minimum and much should be
removable/stackable. A flood warning and evacuation procedure could be
geared into the Environments Agency’s Floodline service, certainly in relation
to the main R.Alne flooding. For the smaller but still very flood-responsive
tributary catchments though, the only warning that might be able to be issued
in time would be little better than the type of warning given by the Met. Office
on the days before when rapid accumulations in some areas “perhaps over
60/70mm” were predicted – which was right. I hope that my report answers
the many questions raised with Councillor Marshall and supports the concerns
and many of the lessons learned as set out in Councillor Matheou’s report.
WJB/SDCHENLEY01/27.09.07
Addendum 1 – Prince Harry Road
I have also received a copy of a report by Mr P Scholes on the flooding at
Prince Harry Road. It mainly relates to the design, performance and
maintenance of the river works carried out as part of the Bloor Homes
development there.
I have tried to discuss the detail/content of Mr Scholes report with the Agency.
The present response is that the Agency has yet to fully analyse the flood
return period of the event and the performance of the flood alleviation works
and the river system through Henley. Many of their FASs, even quite recent
ones, were overwhelmed by the flood flow on the day. They have therefore
engaged consultants to carry out this analysis work across their area.
Investigations and therefore any formal responses, are expected to take at least
3 months. I have however managed to glean some information which I offer as
some sort of informal response.
I understand that the river works carried out as part of the development were
in the form of a two stage channel (base flow channel linked to elevated flood
flow channel) all designed to carry the same design flow as the earlier FAS.
There are no designed flood embankments as such to contain any higher flows
within the two stage channel. The banking shown in Mr Scholes’ report as
having once existed at the boundaries of the properties (Points A & B) does
not appear to have been part of the works design. The higher constructed
banking where Prince Harry Road runs alongside the channel (Point C) is a
feature of the road/pavement design/construction rather than being an elevated
flood embankment.
I further understand that the two stage channel is maintained by the Agency,
irrespective of its ownership. The maintenance extends to annual
mowing/cutting-back of vegetation and desilting of the channel as necessary. I
therefore believe that the river works at Prince Harry Road, as at Millfield
Court and elsewhere, were simply overwhelmed by a flood flow in excess of
the design flow and any spare capacity provided. The flooding of the gardens
and properties was the unfortunate consequence. For a more detailed response
than this, I feel that we will have to wait for the Agency’s deliberations.
WJB/05.10.07
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Addendum 2 – Back Lane
On 17.10 I met with Mr S Dorow of Droitwich House, 125 High Street. He
described and demonstrated the flooding mechanism that had internally
flooded his house, the one behind, the various properties that back onto what
is the ancient High Street and the Back Lane newer development running
down to the river.
The flooding here was simply an extension or outfalling of the High Street
flooding discussed in 5. above. Floodwater ran from the main High Street at
quite some speed into the spur of High Street and along the ancient High
Street in looking for an outfall to the main river at some point. The highway
drainage of the spur of High Street has only two gullies which were
overwhelmed anyway. The gullies appear still partially blocked. Mr Dorow is
to contact the Budbrooke office of the county council to establish the extent of
the adopted area of the High Street spur and the ownership of the gullies and
pipework therein and to then report the attention required to the gullies and to
the flood-damaged road surface. Mr Dorow also reported a meeting with a
Severn Trent Water officer, after an earlier, lesser flooding event, who offered
to investigate the provision of more gullies in this part of the High Street. I
suspect the officer later confirmed that such provision was not STW’s
responsibility but failed to report back to Mr Dorow. There appeared to be few
gullies or gratings serving the back of High Street area. The newer Back Lane
development appeared to have a conventional gully and pipe system,
presumably outfalling to the river at the rear.
Floodwater similarly overwhelmed the old and newer Back Lane
development, building up a head of water against the boundary walling to the
river, exacerbating the flooding. However, it appears that eventually the river
also overflowed the walling – certainly at the back of the property behind
Droitwich House. With the eventual falling of flood level in the river the
aforementioned walling, still with a head of water behind it, was pushed into
the river, where it remains, obstructing at least the base flow in the river. Mr
Dorow understands that there are crayfish in the river, the presence of which is
delaying the removal of the walling by the Environment Agency.
As stated in 8. above the highway drainage system and the public sewer
system merit attention generally to achieve the best hydraulic performance. In
terms of dealing with such extremes of flooding though, what is stated in 9.
above also applies. Flood “resilience” needs to be built into the properties
affected and some sort of town flood warning and evacuation procedure needs
implementing. On a more practical front, overland flood routings might be
investigated to more safely convey floodwater from the High Street spur and
Back Lane area across to the river. This could be over road, path, paved area,
garden area and between buildings. Care will be required though at the outfall
of such routings to the river where non-return valves or gates will be required
to prevent any high river level backing up into the routings.
WJB/17.10.07
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Addendum 3 – Jubilee Recreation Area
On 17.10 I also met with Mrs C Goodman of Castle Close. She also described
and demonstrated the flooding mechanism that had operated on the recreation
area and threatened internal flooding of a number of properties in Castle Close
backing onto the recreation area. Fortunately none were internally flooded but
four were only a few millimetres above the consequent flood level generated.
The recreation area and the wooded bank to the rear on the day became so
saturated and run-off responsive that an extensive overland flow was
generated which, without any flow-interrupting or flow-gathering features in
the recreation area, simply ran over the gardens of the houses to gather at their
rears. Fortunately all had an available flow route across the rear and down the
side of the house and to the road frontage, all at a sufficiently low level, to
convey the water just below levels where it might internally flood the house.
It is essential that these routes are preserved and if possible improved by
opening up and lowering. There would also be merit in the householders
having door boards, air brick covers and a few sandbags to hand. The parish
council, who effectively own the recreation area, might also look to some
landscaping and drainage works on the area to control any future extreme
rainfall event overland flow. The works would have to be consistent with the
use of the area by children and some discussion should be had with the
recreation area’s safety inspector.
The council might first consider a small embankment feature around the
lowest corner of the area against the rear gardens. This could not economically
be constructed to provide a volume to control a flow of the magnitude of 20.07
but might wholly deal with lesser events and at least reduce the impact of
extreme events. Installation of a rubble filled large soakaway behind the
embankment would also assist in under-draining the naturally wet area in this
lowest corner of the area. Consideration should also be given to the provision
of a cut-off ditch along the upper boundary of the area to intercept overland
flow from the woodland. A similar, but more costly, feature could be had by
reconstructing the lateral footpath across the area, in the form of a single-sized
stone-filled trench, perhaps 1m deep, topped with a geotextile sheet and
normal footpath surfacing.
WJB/17.10.07
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Appendix 2
Flooding in Stratford-on-Avon District
RECOVERY PLAN
July 2007
3 October 2007
Version 5
Contact :
Robert Walsh robert.walsh@stratford-dc.gov.uk for Stratford-on-Avon District
Council
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1.
Impact of the 2007 Floods on Stratford-on-Avon
a. Areas most severely affected
b. Households affected
c. Businesses affected
d. Assessment of impact
2.
The response – management and delivery
3.
Short term actions undertaken
4.
Recovery Policies
5.
Action Plan
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1.
Impact of the July 2007 Floods on Stratford-on-Avon
The District has been severely affected by flooding in the summer of 2007.
Heavy rain caused the River Avon to rise on 9 July 2007. This caused flood water to
enter 33 homes in the District
On 20 July pluvial flooding was caused by heavy rain throughout the day,
which the drainage system was unable to cope with. As the surface water entered the
river networks there was then progressive fluvial flooding with the Avon, Stour,
Arrow and Alne rivers rising rapidly and then bursting their banks in many places
between 20th and 23rd July. As a result, over the weekend (Friday – Sunday) roads
were blocked; properties damaged; homes contaminated; residents evacuated and
made homeless.
Stratford-on-Avon District Council’s emergency response centre was
operational from 2.30p.m. on Friday 20 July. It operated constantly until 5.00 p.m. on
Saturday 21 July, after which it reverted to office hours. 200+ calls were dealt with
over the weekend, and the District Council provided regular information on the
changing position within local communities. Operation of the
The Emergency Planning Group for Warwickshire came together at 20.00hrs on
Friday 20th July and coordinated activities over the next 48 hrs. This included a
number of Warwickshire County Council, County Highways actions:
 Closure of 60+ roads at early stages and during heavy rain as events
occurred
 300+ flood warning signs sited across county
 Main roads, where damage had occurred, traffic management installed
and debris cleared quickly
 Key bridges routinely inspected.
a.
Areas most severely affected
The particular nature of the floods over 20-21 July 2007 (initial pluvial flooding due
to surface water run-off, followed by fluvial flooding through rising river levels) left
almost every settlement in the Stratford-on-Avon District damaged by flooding.
Evidence of flood damage being collected by the District Council indicates over 100
communities suffered homes or businesses being flooded.
Settlements known to have been severely affected include:
 Alcester
 Bidford-on-Avon
 Southam
 Shipston-on-Stour
 Welford
 Wellesbourne
b.
Households affected
The District Council has collated available information on properties entered by flood
water. This information has been gathered from the following sources:
 Telephone calls from residents during the emergency itself.
 Requests for collection of flood-damaged goods.
PAGE 16 of 25
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




Responses to requests for information made to elected Members and
Parish Councils.
Information on those presenting as homeless as a consequence of the
floods.
Rest Centre records.
Applications for Council Tax relief.
Registered Social Landlords.
Initial assessment of the areas for which figures have so far been collated indicated
2.4% of households known to have been entered by floodwater. This level of
flooding across the District would equate to some 1,500 homes.
This estimate includes residents of 5 residential caravan sites situation in areas known
to have flooded. These are sites where a mobile home is the permanent residence.
In addition, there are 18 Multiple Licensed Holiday Caravan Sites, which have
permanently sited mobile homes, in the District. Many of the latter are owned by an
individual, rather than the site owner. The restriction on their license is that they can
only live in the caravan for a maximum of 10 months a year. As a consequence a
high proportion of these people live in the caravan for 10 months of the year, and
spend 2 months on holiday, often abroad.
The Council raised this issue with the DCLG on 10 August 2007. On 15 August 2007
the DCLG verbally indicated that these homes could be included in the Council’s
submission under the Flooding Recovery Grant Scheme.
There are an estimated 500 caravans which have been entered by floodwater on these
sites (average 50 caravans on the 10 sites in areas known to have been severely
affecting by flooding).
The total number of residences across the District entered by floodwater or sewage as
a result of the July 2007 floods is therefore estimated as 2,000.
A database has been established to manage records and prevent duplication of results.
All households in areas believed to have been flooded, together with those known to
have had to move to alternative accommodation are being surveyed to establish the
extent of any damage, and relevant information about the householder. This survey
will, of necessity, take some months to carry out.
c.
Businesses affected
The number of individual businesses directly affected by being flooded is relatively
small, with 91 known businesses flooded, with estimates of a further 100 spread
across the District. Shipston-on-Stour; Wellesbourne; Henley-in-Arden; and Alcester
were worst hit numerically, but the nature of the flooding saw hospitality businesses
spread all the way across the District entered by floodwater.
d.
Assessment of impact
It is known that many properties flooded have been contaminated by
sewage. In addition, homes around the Shipston-on-Stour area have been
contaminated with oil from local business premises.
36 households have been evacuated into temporary accommodation as a
consequence of the floods, and 14 remain in temporary accommodation
provided by the Council.
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The Department of Communities and Local Government state that In the case of
recovery from severe flooding, it should be assumed that 50% of displaced victims
require accommodation for up to 3 months; 30% for up to 6 months, and 20% for up
to 12 months.
Research conducted by the Government Office for Yorkshire and Humberside
estimates that 40% of businesses forced to close temporarily as a result of flooding
never reopen.
Similar floods to those of July 2007 were experienced in April 1998. Following the
1998 floods, bookings through the Tourist Information Centre dropped by a third, and
visitor numbers by 40% compared to the previous year.
The potential impact of the July 2007 floods on the local tourism economy is
therefore significant, irrespective of the number of properties actually flooded.
Business density in the district is exceptionally high; at almost twice the national
average, ranking the district in the top 5 per cent of authorities nationally. In line with
these figures the average business size in Stratford is small by national standards, with
a mean of 7.41 employees compared to 11.51 in Coventry and Warwickshire, and
12.22 across the West Midlands.
The immediate impact of the floods on businesses has mainly been upon town centre
retail and service businesses in the towns affected. There are instances of flooding to
commercial and industrial premises outside these areas but not on the same scale as in
those towns.
The problems being experienced by the tourism sector which was already
suffering reduced bookings from a wet summer, have been greatly exacerbated by the
floods and the continuing pessimistic press reports have further depressed this already
vulnerable sector.
In agriculture, market garden crops in south Warwickshire have been lost and
extensive damage to fencing and pollution to be cleaned up.
Overall, Towns and villages towns across the County have suffered from a
general loss of trade as visitors and shoppers stay away, as well as experiencing
staffing and stock difficulties through transport disruption
SQW consultants have been engaged by Advantage West Midlands to
undertake an assessment of the economic impact of the floods and the
effectiveness of measures to address that impact. Warwickshire County
Council, in partnership with Stratford-on-Avon District Council are working
closely with SQW to enable a more robust assessment of the
environmental and economic impact to be quantified. Data outlined in this
report will be refined as a result of the SQW analysis
2.
Short term actions undertaken
In the immediate wake of the flooding, the following actions were undertaken
to assist residents affected:
 Council’s emergency centre staffed 23-27 July specifically to deal with
flood queries. From 30 July onwards the emergency numbers have
been answered through the Council’s Contact Centre.

Comprehensive flooding contacts and advice for home owners
provided via the Council’s website.

Flood damaged bulky waste collected free of charge
PAGE 18 of 25
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
Up to date information of both road closures and flood levels provided
by press office for emergency services and media.

Surveys undertaken amongst staff to register damage to household,
businesses, infrastructure, other facilities and services

Surveys undertaken on impact on all Parishes and Wards.
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3.
Resourcing Longer Term Support
The Council has built a record of the extent of flood damage in the District,
and is working to refine that picture as described above. This information
was provided to the Government Office of the West Midlands on Thursday
9 August 2007.
A ‘Flood Recovery Group’ has been created to oversee recovery phase work. This
group will meet on a monthly basis until all relevant work has been completed.
The following funding has been secured to assist the District’s recovery:
4.

£623,500 from the Department of Communities and Local Government
in the form of a flood relief grant to assist individuals and families
affected by flooding.

£180,000 collected from the public through the Red Cross’s National
Floods Appeal. The money can be used in order to provide grants to
individuals to alleviate hardship as a result of the floods, (particularly
targeting the elderly and households with children under five and those
in financial hardship, such as on means tested benefits) and to some
registered Community Groups.

£100,000 from Advantage West Midlands (AWM) for specified projects
to benefit the local economy.

In addition SDC will seek to recover eligible costs incurred by
application to the Bellwin scheme.
Recovery Policies
The Council’s priority is to help people to get back on their own feet, not to make
them dependent on others for their future wellbeing.
Support will be provided in line with the following policies.
 We will provide the same level of automatic support whether those
affected were insured or not. This will help residents with insurance to
meet their own obligations.

We will provide the same level of support irrespective of tenure.

We will provide an additional level of funding to the most vulnerable
households affected. These will be those:
o On means-tested benefits
o Over the age of 75
o With disabilities
o Families with young children (under 5)
The Council will seek to reduce the risk of future flooding, improve the
response to future emergencies, and increase public confidence, as well as
helping those who were affected in July 2007.
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5.
Action Plan
Having considered the issues facing the District following the floods of July
2007, an action plan for dealing with these issues has been developed. This is
presented below.
The Plan identifies the key issues to be addressed, the specific actions for
dealing with each of these issues, the resource needed for each, areas of
responsibility and targets. It is intended to be dynamic with actions (e.g. XI –
XIII) reviewed at a future stage.
Delivery of the actions themselves will be monitored on an ongoing basis.
The outcomes from this work in terms of strengthening public confidence and
community resilience, will be assessed through a survey in summer 2008,
identified under action XIV.
Activity
Timescale
Resource
Lead
Comments /
implications
Organisation
Status
DEAL WITH PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO RESIDENTS GOODS
(i.) Collect and 23 July 2007 -  No charge SDC
Now
dispose
of
completed.
made
to
flood-damaged
residents.
goods
Cannot
be
funded
through
Bellwin
scheme.
 To
be
funded
through
£50,000
allocated from
DCLG Flood
Recovery
Grant.
PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO MEET NEEDS OF
INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLDERS FLOODED
21
Version 5
Activity
Timescale
(ii.) Provide
grant of £250 to
all householders
who
experienced
internal flooding
Commences
August 2007.
Will continue
until
applications
cease
Resource
Lead
implications
Organisation
 £250 per SDC
household for
2,000
households =
total cost of
£500,000.
 To
be
funded from
DCLG Flood
Recovery
Grant
(iii.) Provide
To be
 £150 per SDC
grant of £150 to determined
household for
vulnerable
following
1,000
households (on approval by
households =
means-tested
Executive.
total cost of
benefits; or over
£150,000.
the age of 75; or Grants can be  To
be
with disabilities; awarded using funded from
or family with data collected Red
Cross
young children for action (i).
Grant
(under 5).
SUPPORT LOCAL ECONOMY AND BUSINESS
(iv.) Provide
Ongoing from N/A
Business Link
advice
to 23 July 2007
individual
businesses
affected
by
flooding
Comments /
Status
713 grants
paid to 2
November
2007.
Caravan Park
owners have
not permitted
distribution of
grant
application
forms, as they
are concerned
this will affect
their licensing
position.
Flood
Recovery
Group has
agreed to
contact the
owners to
stress
information
gathered will
not be used
for that
purpose.
Awaiting
approval from
Executive to
accept the Red
Cross Grant.
Achieved
22
Version 5
Activity
Timescale
(v.) Grants to
individual
businesses
affected
by
flooding
(vi.) Promote
specified events
and festivals to
highlight
that
the District is
‘open
for
business’
Ongoing from
28 August
2007
a) Stratford
Food Festival,
28-30
September
2007
b) Christmas
on Avon
Festival, NovDec 2007
c)
International
ArtsFest, May
2008
Resource
implications
Up to £5,000
per business
(Must be
member of
FSB)
We have
requested
confirmation
from AWM of
the amount
that has been
awarded for
each festival,
and the
conditions
attached, but
have still to
receive this.
We have
requested
confirmation
from AWM of
the amount
that has been
awarded for
each festival,
and the
conditions
attached, but
have still to
receive this.
We have
requested
confirmation
from AWM of
the amount
that has been
awarded for
each festival,
and the
conditions
attached, but
have still to
receive this.
Lead
Organisation
Federation of
Small
Businesses
Comments /
Status
Achieved
Stratford Town
Management
Partnership
We have
requested
confirmation
from AWM of
the amount
that has been
awarded for
each festival,
and the
conditions
attached, but
have still to
receive this.
We have
requested
confirmation
from AWM of
the amount
that has been
awarded for
each festival,
and the
conditions
attached, but
have still to
receive this.
We have
requested
confirmation
from AWM of
the amount
that has been
awarded for
each festival,
and the
conditions
attached, but
have still to
receive this.
Stratford Town
Council and
Stratford Town
Management
Partnership
Orchestra of
the Swan
23
Version 5
Activity
Timescale
Resource
implications
(vii.) Improve
August 2007 – £50,000
the
Public July 2008
provided.
Realm
Lead
Organisation
SDC; Britain in
Bloom
Committees
REDUCE RISK AND IMPACT OF FUTURE FLOODING
(viii.) Conduct
September
Attendance
Environment
public meetings 2007
within existing Agency
in areas most
resources
affected
by
floods.
(ix.) Attend
August –
Attendance
Town and
meetings
to December
within existing Parish Councils
discuss floods 2007
resources
as requested by
Town
and
Parish Councils
(x.) Prepare
Deadline
Within
SDC
comprehensive
January 2008 existing
schedule of how
resources
each Parish was
affected
by
flooding and the
factors
that
contributed to it.
(xi.) Agree
Deadline
Development
SDC (WCC;
costed
and April 2008
of action plan
Environment
prioritised plan
within existing Agency;
of action to
resources.
Severn Trent
reduce risk of
Executive will Water are
future flooding.
be asked to
critical to the
allocate
success of this)
unspent funds
from the
DCLG Flood
Recovery
Grant to
deliver the
higher priority
actions.
Comments /
Status
£13,000
awarded to 6
Britain in
Bloom
Committees.
7 meetings
held across
the District.
On target
On target
24
Version 5
Activity
Timescale
Resource
implications
(xii.) Improve
Deadline
Executive will
response
to April 2008
be asked to
future
allocate
emergencies.
unspent funds
from the
DCLG Flood
Recovery
Grant to fund
this action.
(xiii.) Prepare
Deadline
Executive will
and distribute a February 2008 be asked to
Flood
allocate
Awareness
unspent funds
leaflet to all
from the
residents in the
DCLG Flood
District.
Recovery
Grant to fund
this action.
ASSESSING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE
(xiv.) Public
July 2008
Within
consultation
existing
exercise carried
consultation
out, including
budget
survey
of
Citizens Panel
Lead
Organisation
SDC
Comments /
Status
Detail will
depend on
funding
decision
SDC
Form and
detail will
depend on
funding
decision
SDC
Also used to
assess impact
of actions
carried out.
25