Flood plans are aired

2:11pm Friday 25th April 2008

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FLOOD prevention plans will be discussed by North Wiltshire District Council tonight after parts of the area were submerged three times in one year.

A plan drawn up to give clear guidelines on how to act during bad weather will be discussed at a meeting of the Executive Committee.

A multi agency forum made up of four district councils, Wiltshire County Council, the Environment Agency, police, fire service and Wiltshire Primary Care Trust devised the plan in the wake of January's downpours.

The document covers rules for the distribution of sandbags and gives clear cut information on who is responsible for everything from rescuing victims to flood defence advice.

If adopted, the plan will be published on the district council's website.

Environmental health manager Mike Doran said: "Due to the problems of flooding throughout the county over the last few years, the group considered it would help to provide a consistent approach throughout the county if a Wiltshire flood plan was devised.

"There has been inconsistency on how sandbags have been issued by the county council and the district councils and the plan seeks to establish a protocol.

"Some authorities have considered making a charge for the provision of sandbags.

However, at this present time it is not being put forward as a recommendation and will be a matter that the new council may wish to consider in the future."

At the moment councils do not have to provide sandbags for residents or traders.

The new plan suggests residents should be given technical advice from the Environment Agency on protecting their homes and that parish councils prepare emergency flood plans for their areas.

But councils should only maintain a limited supply of sandbags for emergencies and householders should be encouraged to provide their own flood protection equipment.

Andy West,24, was left stranded at his front door in January after heavy rain hit Crudwell for the second time in six months.

The ex soldier had only moved to the village before Christmas after serving in Afghanistan and Iraq but found himself battling floodwaters.