2:00pm Friday 15th May 2009
By Jonathan Portlock
A campaign to protect hundreds of Elmbridge residents from flooding has been launched this week.
Elmbridge and the surrounding area was listed in 2007 as the 14th most “at risk” area in the UK of being flooded, but an entrepreneur has devised a flood protection system he believes can combat this.
Simon Phelps, the winner of the 2007 South West Young Entrepreneur award, devised the unique system called Floodstop while he was studying at Bournemouth University.
He now anticipates that it could save Elmbridge Council and taxpayers tens of thousands of pounds by providing a reusable, rapid weapon in the fight against seasonal flooding.
Floodstop is a reusable alternative to the traditional, disposable sandbags and Mr Phelps said it had numerous advantages.
He said traditional sandbags were heavy, awkward and time-consuming to put in place, but as Floodstop barriers are made of light polymer material they can be deployed quickly and easily by one person. Floodstop barriers can be used again, which he claimed could save councils and organisations thousands of pounds.
He said: “During the current economic climate, a time when council budgets are more under scrutiny than ever before, it makes sense to invest in renewable flood defences rather than sandbags that are used once then thrown away.
"The cost of Floodstop is in line with sandbags, but it is even more effective.”
Mr Phelps said he had contacted Elmbridge Council and hoped to set up a demonstration with the local authority.
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