Workers at West Sussex County Council have been flat out over the Christmas holiday and New Year period reacting to the bad weather affecting residents across the county. High tides, combined with heavy rainfall and strong winds, caused outbreaks of flooding throughout West Sussex.
In some locations record levels of rainfall fell during December.
West Sussex County Council reacted to help residents and communities affected.
Seven hundred and fifty ‘incident calls’ were dealt with by the County Council outside normal working hours between December 23 and January 7. Of these, 250 were flooding related, while another 250 were to do with fallen trees.
Another 250 calls were received to deal with other incidents. The County Council worked tirelessly with West Sussex Fire and Rescue, the Environment Agency, Southern Water and the six district and borough councils as part of the response effort. Widespread flooding damage to people’s properties was avoided, in some cases because of work co-ordinated by the County Council and other agencies last year to prepare against flooding. The efforts won praise in the House of Commons last week.
Sir Peter Bottomley, MP for Worthing West, told the House: “Some 20,000 homes are exposed to flood risk in Worthing and district. “I hope you will join me in thanking David Robinson, the Environment Agency Operations Director for South Downs and Solent, and the colleagues of Kieran Stigant, the Chief Executive of West Sussex County Council, for their preparatory work last year, which helped to reduce the risk over the Christmas.” County Council Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, Lionel Barnard, said: “Our staff have been tremendously busy – at all hours – dealing with the fallout caused by the floods. “Unfortunately when you get this volume of water it has to go somewhere.
“I can assure residents we are doing everything we can to make sure problems they have encountered are being dealt with.” Last year, the County Council launched its Operation Watershed programme.
Among its aims was a commitment to carry out over 100 drainage improvement projects at locations worst affected by floods. All these works completed so far have been fully, or partially successful, compared to last year.
Three extra gangs have been deployed to deal with the potholes which have started appearing on the roads. Seven hundred and twenty two potholes have been reported to the County Council since January 1.
Uprooted trees or branches that have fallen in private ditches have also caused some problems. Blocked ditches and watercourses can prolong drainage problems or stop water draining away properly. County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, Pieter Montyn, said: “At times like this we really do need the help of the public.
“If you come across a tree that has fallen in your private ditch, we ask for your help in clearing it. “It can prevent all manner of problems for neighbours and your community further down the line.” For more information about flooding in West Sussex visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/flooding or follow @WSCCNews on Twitter.