The Environment Agency briefed Mole Valley councillors on flood prevention ahead of next week's Flood Awareness Event.

Plans for flood prevention in Leatherhead and Fetcham are being presented at the Flood Awareness Day on February 28 (details below).

The event is due to tie in with the ongoing drive by Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) to support the Transform Leatherhead initiative.

Councillor Simon Edge, Cabinet Member for Prosperity, said:

"It is important to our delivery of the Transform Leatherhead Riverside Quarter schemes of Claire House and James House, and the Riverside Park that we work closely with the Environment Agency and partners as they explore flood alleviation measures for Leatherhead and Fetcham.

Cllr Edge added that "individual measures" would be taken for homes under risk of flooding in the area in conjunction with Environment Agency recommendations.

Cllr Edge said: "The Environment Agency... proposes a preferred short term protection option of 'property level resistance and resilience' – this means a range of individual measures to protect the homes most at risk.

"MVDC will continue to support the Environment Agency, and Surrey County Council as the lead flood authority, in doing that."

A December 2017 report on Strategic Flood Risk Assessment showed that various types of flooding remained a risk throughout MVDC's jurisdiction.

The report said: "Surface water flooding is shown to correlate with small watercourses and urban areas throughout the Councils' areas. Groundwater flood risk is shown to vary across the area with areas of increased groundwater risk around Horley, Lower Kingswood, Walton on the Hill, Whyteleafe and parts of Leatherhead..."

MVDC came out in support of the Transform Leatherhead project earlier this month.

In a statement following a cabinet meeting held on February 5, MVDC said: "Transform Leatherhead Masterplan's objectives closely aligned with the fund's objectives and were felt to offer the best chance of success."

Transform Leatherhead is a collaborative project promoted by Surrey County Council, Coast2Capital, The Environment Agency and others. It aims to revitalise Leatherhead town centre by securing investments for improved development in the area.

The Flood Awareness Day will take place on Thursday, February 28 between 2pm-8pm at the Leatherhead Institute. For more info visit www.molevalley.gov.uk/floodawarenessevent