To report a problem
To report a serious problem related to flooding please call the Police.
The Council's Emergency Management Team has produced some guidance on flooding which may help.
For other enquiries please report the problem online
The publication below shows the reported flood risk issues, the findings of the flood investigations and the actions taken.
Being prepared for flooding
The Council's Emergency Management Team has developed guidance on what to do before, during and after flooding. This guidance also includes information on what you can do to help protect yourself and your property from flooding. You will also find a link to the Environment Agency's 'Flood Maps' that can help you identify if you might be at risk. See their pages linked on the right.
Our responsibilities
Under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, we are a Lead Local Flood Authority responsible for managing the following types of flooding:
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Surface water flooding – this includes flooding from rainfall run off from surfaces such as roads, roofs, and patios.
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Ordinary watercourses – this includes drains which can be easily overwhelmed after heavy rain, but excludes main rivers that are managed by the Environment Agency.
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Groundwater flooding – this includes flooding caused by heavy and sustained levels of rainfall capable of increasing the groundwater table.
Our responsibilities as a Lead Local Flood Authority include the following:
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Flood Investigations – On becoming aware of a flood within the County, we have a duty to investigate the actions that have been taken during the flood event, by all relevant authorities, and publish the results of our investigation.
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Flood risk asset register – we are required to establish and maintain a register of all significant flood risk assets with a record of who owns and/or maintains them. Flood assets might include gullies, ditches and drains.
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Local flood risk management strategy – we have a duty to produce a local flood risk management strategy in partnership with key stakeholders in the County. The strategy will define and document all our flood risk management activities in the County.
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Sustainable developments – we have a duty to ensure that new developments are designed and built in a sustainable manner which does not increase flood risk elsewhere, and reduces flood risk whenever possible.
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Consenting of ordinary watercourses – we will take over from the Environment Agency, the responsibility for Ordinary Watercourse Regulation in areas not managed by the Internal Drainage Boards on the 6th of April 2012
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Power to request information – we now have the power to request information relating to flooding from any organisation or individual.
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Designation of Features – we will have the power to designate significant flood risk assets/features to ensure they are managed properly. This means that the either Environment Agency, the County Council as the Lead Local Flood Authority, the District Councils, or the Internal Drainage Boards will be able to designate any significant flood asset/feature in accordance with the conditions provided for doing so. This means that the owners of designated assets/features will be unable to make alterations to these assets without obtaining permission in the form of Consents from the designating authority. This responsibility to designate features will come into effect at a date to be announced.