Flood defences pressed into action on Willows estate
Emergency flood defences on The Willows, Aylesbury, were being pressed into action today (Monday January 11) in case the nearby Stoke Brook overflowed.
It’s the first time The Willows’ new temporary flood defences have been deployed as a precautionary measure against high water levels.
A half-mile long temporary flood barrier was put in place along the brook by aTransport for Buckinghamshire team to guard against the risk of a repeat of the winter 2014 floods that affected 80 homes on the estate.
Alex Back, Buckinghamshire County Council Strategic Flood Management Officer, said the precautionary measure would ensure that if the brook burst its natural banks, overflowing water would be kept safelyin check until levels dropped.
Local county councillor Steve Lambert, who rolled up his sleeves with residents and ward town councillors Mike Smith and Stuart Jarvis to help deploy the flood barrier, said he thought the brook level was high enough to cause concern, and he feared rain forecast in the coming 48 hours might cause an overflow.
‘Thankfully, by pressing this temporary barrier into action now, any overflowing water won’t get a chance to reach residents’ homes, as it did nearly two years ago,’ he said.
The barrier is part of a £245,000collection of flood defence kit bought with a government repair and renewal grant.
The equipment was chosen by a steering group made up of residents, county, district and town councillors, council officers, Thames Water and the Environment Agency.