The issue:
Having experienced severe flooding in both July 2007 and August 2011, Kingsley Close residents contacted Alok in August 2011 to express their concerns that not enough was being done to prevent further instances of flooding in the future.
Achievements in the campaign:
- As a result of a meeting for local residents with Reading Borough Council, Thames Water and the Environment Agency which Alok hosted a meeting in October 2011, the Council agreed to clear the drainage ditch alongside the A33 on the former Courage Brewery site.
- The works involved re-profiling the ditch to adjust its gradient and remove silt. Reading Borough Council has indicated that this should significantly reduce the risk of flooding in the future.
- Following feedback from local residents, the Council also agreed to put in place an annual maintenance programme for the ditch to ensure that its capacity is maintained in the future.
Alok says:
“To reassure residents, Reading Borough Council has confirmed that it will undertake a regular maintenance programme to ensure that the ditch does not get blocked up again. I understand that surveyors from Peter Brett Associates have also been commissioned by the Council to look to see if additional work can be undertaken downstream to improve the situation further.”
“I am pleased that residents have now had their concerns acted upon and I will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that the Council keeps to its pledge of a regular maintenance programme.”