Flooding
Flooding can be caused by water coming from a variety of sources that might not necessarily be nearby or obvious. You do not have to live near the sea or a river for your property to flood, so it is best to be aware of what to do during a flood event, and how you can help your community.
How does flooding affect Wyre?
As a largely flat coastal peninsula, Wyre is at particular risk of sea level rise. As global temperatures rise, ice cap are melting and sea water is expanding, increasing the likelihood of coastal flooding. Many communities and in some cases whole countries will be heavily impacted.
The River Wyre runs through our borough and often floods nearby properties in St Michaels-on-Wyre and Churchtown after storms and heavy rainfall.
Surface water flooding can also occur after heavy storms or intense rainfall, which may damage or overload drainage systems. This is worsened in built up areas with tarmac, paving and artificial grass, where water cannot drain away quickly.
Flooding can have serious impacts on our infrastructure, our homes and our physical and mental health and wellbeing. Damage can incur significant costs and rising insurance premiums for affected households.
Visit the government website to check the long term flood risk in your area.
Wyre’s flood protection schemes
We are working with our partners on a number of flood protection schemes to protect homes and businesses in Wyre. These include:
- Wyre Beach and Dune Management Scheme - This is a £42 million scheme to help raise and stabilise beaches from Cleveleys to Fleetwood. The scheme will protect over 11,000 properties and will commence this year.
- Our Future Coast Project - We have successfully bid for £7.2 million of funding to develop coastal resilience through the creation of natural buffer strips around the coast. Interventions such as developing salt marsh, creating dune systems and intertidal lagoons and reclaiming redundant brownfield sites will help to mitigate the consequences of climate change including flood risk and the loss of biodiversity.
- Wyre Natural Flood Management Scheme - We are supporting this project led by Wyre River’s Trust to reduce rapid runoff during heavy rainfall reducing the flood risk to Scorton, Garstang, Churchtown, St Michaels and Great Eccleston. We have also been working with the Rivers Trust on smaller scale interventions in the downstream catchment including flood storage areas in Thornton Cleveleys at White Carr Lane, Stanah and a development at King Georges playing fields, which will reduce flood risk and provide carbon and biodiversity benefits.
Flood action groups
Wyre's Flood Action Groups are community-based and work with the local authority and agencies to find ways to reduce flood risk and raise awareness of flood risk to the wider community. There are several groups set up in Wyre.
Find your local Flood Action Group
Wyre flood forum
We are continuing to build community resilience through the Wyre flood forum which is one of the longest established flood forums in the country. The forum consists of 11 community Flood Action Groups, Wyre councillors and officers, Lancashire County Council, The Environment Agency, United Utilities, the Rivers Trust and local residents. Together they work to identify and resolve flooding issues.
The forum has resolved several long-term flooding problems and provides communities with support during flood events. We also coordinate drainage works with other authorities. The Making Space for Water group, a partnership of technical officers from key agencies, is currently undertaking significant improvement works in Hambleton, Thornton and Preesall in response to recent flooding. Residents are encouraged to report any drainage issues to Wyre Council and these will be raised with the relevant authority.
Regular forum updates and further information can be found in the local monthly Focus Magazines, also known as 'The Green Book'.
Preparing for a flood
One in six houses in England are at risk of flooding in the future. Being prepared could help you protect your home and belongings next time there is a severe weather event.