A major step has been taken in efforts to better protect homes on a key Newark road from flooding after years of campaigning.
Sue Saddington, the county councillor for Farndon and Trent, has spent a number of years working with local authorities to push for improved flood protection for Farndon Road residents who have repeatedly seen their homes affected by flooding.
The latest milestone came when officers from the Environment Agency and Nottinghamshire County Council visited residents to introduce a Property Flood Resilience (PFR) scheme, following the successful securing of funding for the project.
The scheme will see specialist protection measures installed at eligible properties to help reduce the impact of future flooding and provide residents with greater peace of mind.
Ms Saddington said: “I am absolutely delighted that this scheme is now moving forward after years of work behind the scenes.
“Residents on Farndon Road have suffered flooding on a number of occasions over the years and I have seen first-hand the devastating impact it can have on people’s homes, possessions and wellbeing.”
“I’ve visited the area after flooding events and spoken to residents who have been left dealing with the aftermath. For many, the worry never really goes away and every spell of wet weather brings anxiety about what might happen next.
“That’s why I have continued to press for action and work closely with all the organisations involved to ensure residents’ voices were heard. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their own home and I hope these measures will provide much-needed reassurance for local families.”
“I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to the flood risk management team at Nottinghamshire County Council for the tremendous amount of work they have put into this project. They have done a fantastic job in leading the process and working alongside the Environment Agency and Newark and Sherwood District Council to secure funding and get the scheme to this stage.”
The Property Flood Resilience scheme will provide tailored measures for individual homes, such as flood doors, barriers and other property-level protections designed to reduce the amount of water entering homes.
Sam Smith, Conservative leader of the opposition and Newark East councillor, welcomed the progress.
He said: “This is excellent news for residents on Farndon Road and a significant step towards providing better protection for homes that have been affected by flooding in the past.
“Cllr Saddington has worked tirelessly on behalf of residents for a number of years and has consistently championed the need for stronger flood protection measures.”
Following the introductory visits on June 11, the project will now progress to the next stage, with detailed assessments and the installation of property-level flood resilience measures at eligible homes.