Your views sought on Hillingdon's flood strategy

The council's flood risk strategy sets out the approach to managing this growing threat, explaining how the council will work with its communities, businesses and other responsible authorities to ensure that collectively they are best prepared to tackle flood risk. 

The LFRMS details local flood risks relating to surface water runoff, groundwater and ordinary watercourses and how the council plans to reduce the flood risks associated with these sources of flooding. 

The strategy outlines the collaborative approach the council proposes to take with other responsible authorities to tackle flood and water management within Hillingdon and details these actions in a single document.   

The strategy also sets out:

• current and future flood mitigation/alleviation projects
• how these projects can create opportunities
• how local communities can reduce local flood risk and report flooding.

The strategy needs to be kept up to date to reflect changes to legislation and to ensure consistencies with other national and regional plans.

The borough has a comparatively rich diversity of habitats and environments, benefiting from having many rivers, streams and brooks along with extensive open space making it one of the greenest London boroughs. However, this extensive network of watercourses is also a source of flood risk. 

Combined with our urban areas and struggling drainage networks, as well as the impact of climate change, the risk of flooding is increasing and requires more innovative solutions. 

Cllr Eddie Lavery, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Residents' Services, said: "We're determined to create a borough with safe and strong communities and with extreme weather events set to increase in frequency it's important we take steps to protect the borough both now, and into the future.

"The strategy lays out the approach we are proposing to take, working with residents and partner agencies to ensure we're taking proactive measures to mitigate risk in advance as well as being able to act swiftly and appropriately in the event of a flood.

"Local knowledge will be vital in ensuring our approach is effective, so please share your views on the draft strategy so we can ensure it will help put residents first."

In recent years, the council has undertaken a range of proactive flood resilience projects, including the creation of rain gardens on housing estates and flood mitigation measures in local parks, with more projects planned for the coming year to reduce flood risks from local waterways.

Take part in the LFRMS consultation before the deadline on Sunday 3 March at www.hillingdon.gov.uk/flood-strategy-consultation.