Highways teams work to prepare Much Wenlock for thunderstorms

Following flooding in Much Wenlock last week, highways teams from Shropshire Council were out and about in the town yesterday (Sunday 18 June) to help prepare the town for thunderstorms forecast by the Met Office.

The teams’ work included cleaning and unblocking highways gullies and drains in readiness for the predicted storms.

They worked in partnership with Much Wenlock Town Council, the Flood Action Group, local councillor Dan Thomas, and with the local community to ensure that cars weren’t parked over gullies.

Thankfully although there was some heavy rainfall in Much Wenlock, there was not a repeat of the serious flooding in the town seen last week.

Dan Thomas, Shropshire Councillor for Much Wenlock, said:

“The teams were in the town all day on Sunday doing brilliant work to unblock a large number of drains. They’ve been brilliant and worked really hard to get Wenlock ready for the storms”.

Richard Marshall, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways, said:

“Our highways teams did a great job, but I also want to thank the town council, Flood Action Group and the local community for all their help. It really has been a team effort.”

Although essential to ensure the highway drainage network is fully operating in a storm, the recent flooding in Much Wenlock was caused by intense rainfall that exceeded the capacity of the drainage network.

The Much Wenlock area is designated as a rapid response catchment by the Environment Agency and is liable to flooding during intense rainfall.

Following previous flooding in Much Wenlock the council has worked with the National Flood Forum to establish a Flood Action Group and has worked with the community and Much Wenlock Town Council to raise awareness of this and help residents and businesses be as prepared as possible.

Shropshire Council will continue to work with the Environment Agency and Severn Trent Water to ensure the community is better prepared for future flood events.

For information on preparing your property for flooding, visit the Shropshire Council website here. For support following a flood you contact the National Flood Form for advice.