Purley flood plan group launched (From Your Local Guardian)

Pilot scheme launched in Purley to prevent flooding

8:20am Monday 7th November 2011 in Croydon By Nick Hitchens

Led by an internationally recognised architect a community group has been picked in a pilot programme established to fight the risk of flooding.

Purley has been identified as a high risk flood zone and following negotiations between the Environment Agency, General London Assembly and Purley and Woodcote Resident Association is part of a pilot programme to tackle London flooding.

Plans include training four flood wardens in emergency contingency plans so they can contact at risk residents, providing information about anti-flooding products available to the public and campaigning to have blocked gullies and ditches cleared regularly.

The Resident’s Association Chairman Tarsem Flora, a top architect who has lectured at University College London, will lead the Purley Flood Forum, alongside fellow members Tony Farrell, Phil Reed and Purley Business Association Chairman Lisa Downham.

Mr Flora said: “We have been in negotiations for about 18 months and have been chosen for the pilot project.

“Flooding is a terrible problem in Purley. Firstly we have the River Bourne running through the town, then there is all the run-off from the surrounding hills, and then the issue of blocked drainage.

In 2007 more than 300 residents and businesses reported suffering from flooding in Purley after torrential rain in July.

Thousands of leaflets offering advice in the case of heavy rain will be printed and delivered, the volunteer flood wardens will be trained and a list of residents at risk will be collected by March next year, all funded by the GLA.

A spokesman for the Mayor of London said: “The Greater London Authority received money from Defra to look at where flooding from heavy rainfall could affect people and property and to work with the boroughs and the Environment Agency to manage the risks in these areas.

“Part of this includes working with local communities who have experienced flooding to help them become more resilient to any future flooding.

“Purley was nominated by Croydon Borough Council as one of the pilot projects and further details on this scheme, will be announced shortly.”