The Environment Agency has started a series of public drop in sessions are to be held to update communities on the development of the £17.1 million River Medway flood alleviation scheme.
The multi-million pound project is being delivered in partnership between the Environment Agency, Kent County Council, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, and Maidstone Borough Council.
The scheme to increase the capacity of the Leigh and Hildenborough flood storage areas will provide a better standard of protection to 1,475 properties.
Detailed studies showed that the best way for flood risk to be reduced for communities in Yalding, Collier Street, and Laddingford will be localised flood defences and individual property protection, which can be directly targeted at communities at greater risk.
Julie Foley, Environment Agency Area Manager, said this year in Kent an additional 7,566 homes would be better protected from flooding as a result of the Agency’s work, commenting:
“We have worked closely with our partners to reduce the impacts of future flood events in Tonbridge, Hildenborough, Yalding, Collier Street and the surrounding communities, and the drop in sessions offer local residents a great opportunity to come and find out more about how we are working to provide the most effective solution in each location.”
Nicolas Heslop, Leader of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, added:
“This is an important moment in the project and we are keen to explain to the public how some much needed measures to reduce flood risk could be delivered. I believe this will benefit communities in our borough significantly and I hope people will take the opportunity to learn more about what is proposed.”
Waterbriefing is media partner with the Environment Agency’s major three-day conference and exhibition Flood and Coast 2017 which takes place from 28th to 30th March 2017 in Telford. Click herefor more information