A detailed investigation into the flooding which occurred in Framlingham during October 2023 has taken place to understand what caused these events and recommend what could be done to alleviate flooding here in future.
As lead local flood authority, the county council has a duty to investigate significant flooding under Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act. These investigations help to establish the source of flooding, factors which may have caused or exacerbated the flooding, the impacts on people, services and infrastructure and any actions which could be taken to increase resilience to future storm events.
The reports include a list of short, medium and longer-term recommendations, which serve as potential actions to improve resilience and reduce the risk of flooding in these communities. The actions have been tailored to a range of parties, including individual homeowners, community groups, landowners and Risk Management Authorities, all of which can contribute to help mitigate local flood risk.
For short term measures, key highlights include the implementation of community flood plans, maximising Property Flood Resilience (PFR) grants, removal of blockages within watercourses and drainage infrastructure, as well as improvements to flood warning systems and the sensitive management of land – some of these measures have already been taken.
For medium to longer term recommendations, there is emphasis on potential improvements to drainage infrastructure and the creation of new natural flood management features, to reduce flood risk within the catchment. These longer-term recommendations would require external funding and collaboration with landowners and communities to implement.
Since the storm, targeted recovery work has been carried out across the county to ensure damaged highway infrastructure is repaired, those whose properties were flooded get help and that investigations can start which will identify how to reduce flood risk. In any usual year, Suffolk County Council carries out around three or four of these flood investigations, however following Babet, approximately 50 have been commissioned.
Councillor Paul West, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for Ipswich, operational highways and flooding, said:
“The impact of Storm Babet is still being felt across the county with some people still not back in their homes. Communities such as Framlingham have suffered as a result of this storm and these in-depth investigations will help us work with them and other communities to lower flood risk and build resilience ahead of future flood events.
“We recognised the importance of carrying out these investigations thoroughly following Storm Babet, so invested an extra £1 million of funds to bring in additional specialists – ensuring we could do more for our communities, and quicker!
“I also urge anyone who suffered internal flooding as a result of Storm Babet to apply for the £5k grant to make their homes more resilient to future floods. Applications can be made until April 2025 and anyone interest should make contact with the Council at floodgrants@suffolk.gov.uk.”
