Residents of Cheshire West and Chester will be able to find out about the recent flooding events in the borough through a special online webinar event.
Representatives from agencies who responded to the floods, including the Council, The Environment Agency and United Utilities, will take part in the live event on Tuesday, March 2 at 6.30pm.
The meeting will provide an overview of the response to the flooding everts in January, and outline what measures were taken to ensure public safety and protect homes and properties.
It will also focus on the support provided at the time and the ongoing support provided to residents and businesses, together with outlining the extensive clean-up operation in the aftermath of the incident.
The session will be opened by the Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, Cllr Louise Gittins. In the days following the flooding, Cllr Gittins wrote to government officials from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs urging them to support those communities affected by the flooding.
At the height of the flooding, 244 residential and 92 business properties were affected. In total, 152 properties were flooded, with 128 people were evacuated from their homes.
Cllr Gittins said the online event will be a chance to update people about any developments and to discuss future action.
Cllr Gittins said: “This was the worst flooding event our borough has seen and we know a lot of people were hit hard by it. We are doing all we can to support our residents and businesses and we know there is a lot more to do.
“There will be many questions about the incident and about what will happen now. This event is our chance to answer those questions, to decide how we can all work together to learn lessons and determine what action needs to be taken.”
Mike Wood, Water and Wastewater Network Director at United Utilities, said: “We’re committed to working jointly with the other flood agencies in Northwich to understand the root causes of the flooding and plan the next steps in tackling the issue. It’s important that members of the community have this opportunity to ask questions and find out how we move forward.”
Ben Scott Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager for the Environment Agency said: “Storm Christoph has shown what can happen when huge amounts of rain falls in a very short time. It is vital that we continue to listen to the people who have experienced flooding first hand and learn from their experiences.
“We are pleased to be able to join this multi-agency flooding forum, alongside our partners, to provide a one-stop-shop for residents to access the information and support they need. This virtual session will provide a good opportunity for residents to speak to different agencies, ask questions and raise concerns. I would urge everyone in Cheshire West and Chester communities to come along and learn more about our ongoing recovery work.”
The online event will take place from 6.30pm onwards on Tuesday, March 2.
Members of the public will be able to view the event through a special weblink hosted by the Council here: https://cheshirewestandchester.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/551419
Questions can be submitted in advance via the following email address: FloodRecovery@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk, and some of these questions will be used for a Q&A session on the night.
