Official reports examining the severe flooding that affected Binstead, Bembridge and Monktonmead last summer are now available to read online.
Flash floods in July and August 2021 led to blocked roads and submerged properties after the Island was hit by spells of torrential rain.
Three independent investigations
In response, the Isle of Wight council commissioned three independent investigations to better understand the causes and any factors that may have influenced the severity of the flooding.
The in-depth studies involved collecting information from those directly affected by the flooding, as well as private bodies with flood management responsibilities.
Section 19 flood investigation reports
All three so-called ‘Section 19 flood investigation reports’ have recently been published on the council’s Website.
The council will now consider all the recommendations, taking into account how many can be delivered and in what timescales given the resource and cost implications.
Work closely with key stakeholders
Some actions will require the council to work closely with key stakeholders and landowners, including Island Roads, the Environment Agency and Southern Water.
This is already underway in Binstead where local residents are set to be consulted on potential options to mitigate against future flooding next month.
The council has allocated funds towards the works with additional financial support secured from the Environment Agency and Southern Water.
Five-year Property Flood Resilience scheme
In Bembridge, a multi-agency meeting with the parish council will be taking place soon to discuss flooding.
In addition, the Environment Agency and Isle of Wight council are contributing to a five-year Property Flood Resilience scheme that provides grants for flood improvements to individual qualifying homes.
Areas to benefit
Bembridge and Monktonmead, Ryde, have been identified as areas that could benefit from this scheme as a result of the Section 19 reports.
At Monktonmead, the Environment Agency has already started to review the recommendations within the Section 19 report relating to recent flood mitigation works at Simeon Street Recreation Ground.
Bacon: Everyone’s input has proved invaluable
Cllr Jonathan Bacon, Cabinet member for the environment, said,
“It was essential that we took action to properly look into the causes and impacts of the flooding that occurred last year.
“Many residents were adversely affected and much distress and damage to properties resulted.
“I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this work as their input has proved invaluable as we now look to take forward potential options to take preventative steps and to mitigate the risk of similar flooding occurring in the future.”
News shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed
Image: petercastleton under CC BY 2.0
