Flood protection for Buckingham properties

Archived press release

Date Published: 07/07/10

Residents in Buckingham are set to benefit from an investment of more than £500,000 to provide 100 homes in the town with their own standalone flood defences.

Flood protection measures will be installed to help prevent internal flooding in the future to those properties most affected in the area.

The work will include the installation of specially designed air brick covers and door boards, amongst other initiatives.

Aylesbury Vale District Council has been successful in securing £575,000 worth of funding from the Environment Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) for the new flood defences.

Properties benefiting from the funding have already been surveyed so the council and owners can understand how they are susceptible to flooding and what can be done to reduce the risks. An exhibition was also held in the town to allow residents to see the kind of flood protection products that will be used.

Whitehouse Construction Co Ltd has been appointed to install the various products and measures. The contractors are aiming to complete the work by the end of September.

Buckingham last flooded heavily in July 2007 when the River Great Ouse burst its banks. The torrential rain also caused flooding problems elsewhere in Aylesbury Vale as drainage systems struggled to deal with the exceptional rainfall.

Councillor Sir Beville Stanier, Cabinet Member for Environment and Health, said: “AVDC is committed to improving the lives of its residents in any way it can. The Environment Agency and Defra funding we have secured will facilitate the installation of flood protection measures such as air brick covers and door boards to those homes that would really benefit most.”

Those living in areas at risk of flooding should take precautions to reduce the impact on their homes. To find out about the flood warning service and how people can protect themselves and their homes, call Floodline on 0845 988 1888 or visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodline