Newark and Sherwood District Council host flood forum in the aftermath of Storm Henk
Representatives from 18 different villages and communities affected by the flooding caused by Storm Henk attended a council forum on Monday (January 16).
People were invited to feedback on their experiences at the Newark and Sherwood District Council event.
The forum aimed to bring to the attention of key agencies ideas for improvement and concerns about the effectiveness of the flood response.
Colleagues from Nottinghamshire County Council, Severn Trent, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, and the Environment Agency were all in attendance.
Better communications, stronger control of road closures, more effective links between different agencies, and increased frequency of maintenance works were just a few of the many topics under discussion.
Paul Taylor, Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Community Relations said: “We wanted to take the opportunity to express our appreciation to the Flood Wardens and other representatives of local communities that are so vital to the collective flooding response.
"During Storm Henk, public services were extremely stretched as they sought to tackle flooding on a scale that has not been seen for many years and in some locations, like never before.
"But it’s crucial that we reflect on what happened, listen to people that were involved and impacted by the floods, and find ways to offer improved support.
"It’s abundantly clear to everyone that we can’t keep on simply reacting and responding to floods, we have to find practical ways to prevent them and mitigate their impact.
"Monday's session helped build relationships and identify ideas for improvement which will be taken forward and acted upon”.