Environment Agency and Guildford Borough Council jointly hold a flood surgery

On Friday 9 May, the Environment Agency, in collaboration with Guildford Borough Council will hold a Flood Surgery at the Guildhall in Guildford to help and advise residents in Guildford affected by the Winter 2013/2014 floods. The surgery will be open to the public from 3:30pm – 8:30pm, and will also be attended by the Local MP for Guildford, Anne Milton.

The Environment Agency and its partners, including Guildford Borough Council, Surrey County Council, Thames Water and National Flood Forum will be present at the event to help residents understand local flood risk issues, the role of the different organisations on flooding, and offer support, advice and information on what individual households can do to help reduce the impact of flooding in the future. Key Councillors from Guildford Borough Council and Surrey County Council will also be present at the event. The surgery is also an opportunity for the residents who have been affected by flooding to share their experiences with these organisations.

The Environment Agency will also be able to advise the residents on how to be prepared for possible flooding such as signing up to receive free flood warnings, preparing personal flood plans and community emergency plans. The National Flood Forum will be able to advise on what householders can do in order to make their properties more resilient to flooding.

Guildford Borough Council and Surrey County Council will also be able to offer guidance on grants and council tax rebates to help with the costs of cleaning up after a flood.  If an individual’s house or business has been internally damaged by the winter 2013/2014 floods, they may be eligible for help under the ‘Repair and Renew Grant’. Residents affected can also make an application to Surrey County Council for the grant during the surgery.

Ian Tomes, Environment Agency Flood and Coastal Risk Manager, said: “While we can’t control the likelihood or frequency of extreme weather events, we can help people to be better prepared for any future event by providing the best up to date and accurate information we can.

“We are working hard to support all those who have been affected by the recent flooding by listening to their experiences and addressing their concerns. This information is incredibly valuable and will help inform our future work. By working with the community and local partners, we can work collaboratively to deliver more effective community resilience in the future and provide greater access to resources, support and information.”

Cllr Richard Billington, Lead Councillor for Community Safety and Health, says: “The unprecedented floods in Guildford this winter affected a number of residents and businesses who may be eligible for grants for repairs. Residents can drop in and have a chat about how we can help at the Guildhall on 9 May.

“It’s important that local people are prepared for any future flood events by having a personal flood plan and signing up to receive free flood warnings from the Environment Agency.
“We will continue to work closely with all our partners to look at how we improve our flood plans for the future.”

Members of the public are encouraged to sign up to receive free flood warnings by visiting the Environment Agency pages at the Gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings