Brampton community call for lasting solution after third flooding incident of the year
Residents in Brampton are voicing their frustration after recent floods, citing inadequate response from agencies and lack of effective flood prevention measures
Last updated 4th Nov 2024
Flooding struck Brampton’s Hansell Road for the third time this year, with the River Great Ouse’s overflow severely impacting the area.
Resident Michael Brown shared his concerns, explaining that flooding "essentially occurs from the overflow and back-up from the River Great Ouse, which spills into the street through ditches."
This most recent flooding forced local authorities to clean streets while residents relied on sandbags to protect their homes, a solution Brown described as "messy and obstructive."
The response from authorities was delayed until a visit from local MP Ben Obese-Jecty prompted action.
"It was very disappointing that it took our MP... to get things moving," Brown noted, but he expressed gratitude that the visit eventually drew attention to the issue.
Although agencies were made aware of the flooding situation, Brown stated that there is "no immediate solution" for the recurring issue.
He recounted a recent meeting held with local authorities and agencies, including Cambridgeshire County Council and the Internal Drainage Board, to discuss potential flood solutions.
However, he revealed that the Environment Agency "did not attend," leaving him and other residents with little progress.
Current advice to residents is to focus on self-protection measures, but as Brown highlighted, residents were already aware of this need.
"It’s disappointing... we knew we had to protect our own homes," he said, adding that the response did little to alleviate his concerns.
Reflecting on the repeated flooding, Brown stated, "It’s the third time this year it’s happened here."
Efforts to address the flooding have seen residents independently installing non-return valves to reduce water entry into their homes.
However, Brown questioned whether these measures would be effective long-term, stating, "We’re doing everything we can ourselves to help… but it does require a proper consultation with a water engineer."
The Environment Agency and other bodies have noted that the cost of large-scale flood management solutions would run into the millions, yet Brown and other residents continue to call for comprehensive, civil-engineering solutions.
A Spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “We are aware of flooding in the village of Brampton during September and October 2024, and we extend our sympathies to those in the community that have been affected.
"We are working on the recovery from the event. This includes monitoring rivers, inspecting our assets and doing maintenance and clearance activities.
"Furthermore, we’re working with partners in Local Resilience Forums and responding to any reports of incidents from the public or partners. Also our officers are out on the ground monitoring flows, keeping rivers clear of blockages to reduce flood risk and visiting the communities most affected.
“We ask that anyone who’s property or community has received a flood warning to follow the advice on gov.uk/flood.”