Weymouth residents' chance to have a say on flooding problem (From Dorset Echo)

Weymouth residents' chance to have a say on flooding problem

4:00pm Saturday 12th January 2013 in News By Martin Lea

RESIDENTS concerned about flooding in Weymouth’s Park District hope to have their questions answered at a public meeting.

The Waterside Weymouth Community Forum is organising the event in response to feedback from locals on a range of issues, including whether the area is prepared for another deluge.

Speakers lined up include borough council technical services manager Steve Woollard and Wessex Water engineer Andy Gale.

Council chief executive David Clarke will also be talking about the partnership between the borough and West Dorset District Council, and Dorset’s Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill will be explaining his role.

Top of the agenda though will be flooding. Prolonged heavy rain last July led to a major operation in the Park District with some residents evacuated from their homes and others on standby with sandbags as water levels rose.

The community’s ‘Blitz spirit’ was praised as residents worked to help each other – but questions remain over whether more could have been done to protect properties, said forum chairman John Morse.

Wessex Water held information roadshows in September but these were in the daytime when many working people would have missed them, said Mr Morse.

He said residents had wondered whether blocked drains and gullies contributed to problems.

“There’s a lot of confusion about where responsibility lies. At the Wessex Water event everyone got different answers when questions were asked,” Mr Morse said.

He added: “We hope to get some straight answers at the meeting. We want to know if lessons have been learnt and if more work can be done.”

Mr Morse said the meeting was also an opportunity to hear about the partnership between the borough and district councils, and the implications for people locally.

People may also be curious about Martyn Underhill’s role.

Mr Morse said: “I don’t think people knew what they were voting for in the Police and Crime Commissioner election and subsequently there was a very low turnout.

“I think residents will welcome the opportunity to find out more about what Mr Underhill does.”

Officers from the local Safer Neighbourhood Team will also be giving an update about their work in the area.

Everyone is welcome to the meeting which will be held at the Park Community Centre, Chelmsford Street at 7pm on Wednesday, January 16.