Over 900 homes across County Durham have been protected from flooding thanks to £8m of investment by Durham County Council.
A report being presented to the council’s cabinet on Wednesday 11 May provides an update on flood prevention works undertaken across the county since 2012 and details how the council will have invested £8m in the six year period to 31 March 2017 in flood prevention capital works with a further £3m secured from the Environment Agency.
The report also highlights the damage caused by flooding to the highway infrastructure and how these repairs have been funded from a combination of additional funding from the Council and the Department for Transport.
Councillor Stephens, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships said: “We take flooding and the care of flood-hit communities very seriously and are delighted that so many properties have now been protected as a result of the extensive work we have undertaken.”
The council will now publish a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS) for consultation with the public, businesses and partners including the Area Action Partnerships, Town and Parish Councils. The aim of the LFRMS is to understand, mitigate and build resilience against flood risk in County Durham. It is proposed that the public consultation would last for three months.
Members will consider the paper when they meet at County Hall this week.