18 August 2014
Local MP Harriett Baldwin has called on Tenbury people to keep an eye out for blocked or overgrown waterways. At the height of summer streams and brooks can get clogged with vegetation storing up problems when flash-floods hit. Worcestershire County Council is carrying out scheduled work to clear gulleys and the Environment Agency is planning work in Tenbury to ensure the local brooks are free from obstructions. Harriett discussed the issue during a meeting with the Environment Agency, but also urged people to keep watch and report any potential problems. Harriett said: “The Environment Agency and the county council are both busy at this time of year maintaining the waterways and trying to ensure that water flows away as expected. “But it is a huge task and they only have finite resources, it is important that local communities also keep a watchful eye, and those landowners next to watercourses act responsibly to maintain the bed and bank of the rivers which they own, especially if they are prone to flooding. “With a spate of sudden thunderstorms hitting the county during the past weeks, it is vital that we stay vigilant and help each other to spot blocked drains and other waterways and reduce the risk of serious flooding. “I took the opportunity to discuss Kyre Brook with the Environment Agency after receiving questions from constituents and they have promised to carry out some remedial work as soon as possible. “Serious blockages should be reported so the Environment Agency can act where necessary but I hope anyone who is enjoying the countryside at this time of year will be on the look-out for potential problem areas.”