Flood risk probe vital for Wirral Waters scheme

Nov 30 2009 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

Wirral Waters

The SFRA divides Wirral into flood zones depending on the expected risks, and the report said: “At Leasowe there is potential for tidal floodwaters to become trapped behind existing fluvial defences, which inhibit drainage of a tidal flood down The Birket.”

Leasowe councillor Ian Lewis said: “Sadly, there is too much reacting to flooding risk instead of seeking to avoid it.

“It is more than a year since the flooding damage we saw in parts of Leasowe and Moreton and, other than some meetings in the Town Hall, we have yet to see the kind of action needed to reduce the risk in future.

“Anyone planning to develop a site, whether it is the on the scale of Wirral Waters or a single dwelling on brownfield land, should only be given the go ahead if it is proved the development will not add to the flood risk.

“Much of Moreton and Leasowe is below water level. It is time this was recognised in the decisions taken by the planning committee.”

A spokesperson for Wirral Council said: “Wirral Council operates within national requirements and considers flood risk as part of all planning applications. If an application is submitted for an area with a greater likelihood of flooding, the applicant is required to provide a flood risk assessment.

“The council works closely with the Environment Agency on planning matters and uses their advice to inform decisions.””