Meeting today to discuss whether more could be done to protect Horncastle from flooding

It's after flooding in 250 homes in the town during Storm Babet almost a year ago

Flood water
Author: Andy MarshPublished 14th Oct 2024

There's calls to investigate further whether the current flood protection projects in Horncastle are fit for purpose

Almost a year since storm Babet impacted 250 homes in the town and the town council will today meet to discuss their frustrations claiming more needs to be done.

They'll consider recommendations of a new report.

We spoke to Councillor Matthew Wilkinson Mayor and Chair of the Town council.

The biggest question for me is when the Environment Agency and County council are going to review whether a flood alleviation scheme is needed for the River Waring

He told us: "The report asks as many questions as it answers."

"There are lots of elements in the report which don't fully answer what the residents of Horncastle want."

"They are - did the flood alleviation scheme work correctly and as designed."

"The biggest question for me is when the Environment Agency and County council are going to review whether a flood alleviation scheme is needed for the River Waring and protecting those residents."

"At the end of the day Horncastle is at the tributary of 2 rivers and is always at risk of flooding."

Everybody was expecting it to kick in and the flood levels wouldn't continue to rise - that didn't happen

"What concerns me is this report focused on the flood alleviation scheme on the River Bain but the majority of the flooding was from residents located off the River Waring which is an uncontrolled water source."

"Up until that point the flood alleviation scheme had operated numerous times and there hadn't been severe instances of flooding throughout the town since it was in operation."

"Everybody was expecting it to kick in and the flood levels wouldn't continue to rise."

"That didn't happen and in the space of half an hour homes were flooded."

The Environment Agency says the extraordinary amount of rain that fell was responsible for the flooding and work to improve their systems and processes will continue.

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