Flood meeting set for town residents

Hucknall flood.
De je vu! Craig Jones sweeps away flood water from mum, Wendy's home, a repeat picture after he was featured in the Dispatch aged around 4, doing the same thing. — Hucknall flood. De je vu! Craig Jones sweeps away flood water from mum, Wendy's home, a repeat picture after he was featured in the Dispatch aged around 4, doing the same thing.

Many homes and some businesses were badly affected by the ‘freak storm,’ which hit the area on 23rd July, and has led to many people demanding answers in abid to prevent it from happening again.

When the torrential rain hit the area, many people were forced to be evacuated from their homes in Arden Close.

Thoresby Dale, an area with historic flood problems, was also hit hard in the downpour, turning the road into a lake.

Residents on this street are still left counting the costs and, as previously reported in the Dispatch, one couple are having to live in their caravan whilst their house continues to dry out.

Following the events of that fateful July day, a meeting was called with all involved parties.

Since then, Hucknall’s Ashfield District and Nottinghamshire county councillors have been working together to get the various agencies including both councils, Severn Trent and the Environment Agency to come together to allow residents to be involved in shaping plans for any future adverse rainfall.

Coun Ian Morrison who represents Hucknall North ward, which includes the area affected by flooding around Thoresby Dale said: “Residents know the area better than anyone,” he said.

“It is vital that we all listen to their concerns and ideas for preventing the terrible scenes we saw in the summer from happening again.”

Mary Dhonau who is the chairman of the Flood Prevention Association will also be at the event to offer advice to residents especially those whose homes were damaged in July.

Representatives from Nottinghamshire County Council’s Emergency Planning team will be working with residents to develop a strategy which can be implemented by local people at the first signs of heavy rainfall.

County Coun Alice Grice explained: “If we experience weather like we did in July again, it is important that we have plans to limit any damage which can be put into place immediately without having to wait for outside agencies to arrive on the scene.”

The event, which is open to all Hucknall residents, will be held at Hucknall Leisure Centre on Saturday 2nd November. Residents can drop-in between 10am and 1pm.