Email update from Leicestershire County Council
Your Liberal Democrat Borough Councillors Ian Ridley and Jasvir Chohan received the following update from the County Council on 7th August 2023:
At this stage the County Council is still collating information from the flooding event which occurred on 22nd June 2023, which affected Oadby, Wigston, and a number of other areas of the County. The County Council as Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) is continuing to work with its partners (Leicester City Council, Severn Trent Water, and District/Borough Councils) to better understand the extent and impact of flooding experienced on 22nd June. The County Council has received a large volume of calls and reports of flooding within in the past month (in particular relating to the 22nd June) but is working with partner organisations to respond to the communities affected by recent flooding as quickly as possible.
Based on the information received so far, the event on the 22nd June 2023 triggered the County Council’s criteria for a formal flood investigation (a Section 19 report). Please be aware that the timescale to complete a Formal Flood Investigation can take many months or even years depending on the level of investigation and liaison alongside other Risk Management Authorities (RMAs). We would still encourage any customers who were affected to submit flood reporting forms if they have not already done so. This can be done via our website or alternatively we posted paper copies to a number of affected areas last month.
The responsibility to maintain the Wash Brook lies with the riparian landowners through whose land the watercourse flows. When the County Council receives a report of a blockage in a watercourse, the County Council attempts to engage with riparian landowners to request that a watercourse is maintained. The County Council has previously contacted riparian landowners in Oadby to make them aware of their riparian responsibilities and to request maintenance. The County Council does not have a duty to enforce landowners to maintain watercourses, and the powers the LLFA has in relation to land drainage enforcement are permissive only.
At this stage, it is still too early to conclude the flood mechanisms or root causes with any level of confidence. Should any customers have evidence of blockages in the Wash Brook whether before or since the 22nd June event, we would encourage them to send this to flooding@leics.gov.uk if they have not already so that this can be considered as part of the investigation and any necessary actions identified.
Kind regards,
Thomas Mawdsley
Flood Engagement Officer