A PLAN of action has been drawn up to try to prevent a repeat of the flooding crisis in the Buckskin area of Basingstoke.

However, a councillor in charge of a new steering group set up to help co-ordinate the action plan has warned that if heavy rain returns this winter, so could the floods.

Basingstoke North West county councillor Stephen Reid, whose steering group will support a multi-agency group responsible for carrying out various tasks in Buckskin, said: “If we have rain like we had this winter, next winter, people will be watching fearfully out of their windows.”

Cllr Reid, who is a member of the county council’s Cabinet, said the action plan, agreed by Cllr Seán Woodward on Tuesday, at the executive member for economy, transport and environment meeting, will ensure all agencies are better prepared, and will have advanced warning of possible flooding.

The action plan is based on recommendations made in an investigative report on the flooding, which began on February 7 this year and resulted in over 80 households being evacuated.

A report, prepared for the meeting, said: “The foul water flooding suggests that the foul sewer network was unable to cope with the inundation from the groundwater and surface water flooding.”

It added: “Rising groundwater is thought to have activated a dormant spring which exacerbated the situation, and also caused the surface water drainage (formed of soakaways) to cease functioning.”

The plan of action includes various recommendations, including monitoring groundwater levels, maintaining ditches and pipes and investigating the use of abstraction at existing boreholes to maintain groundwater levels.

Hampshire County Council will investigate and accurately map the location and functioning of the highway drainage system within the Buckskin area, and undertake any maintenance required.

Thames Water will be asked to investigate actions that can be taken in an emergency to reduce inflow into sewers. The company will also ensure the Grampian Way sewer is maintained.

SSE will look at the resilience of the West Ham borehole and electricity substation, which flooded in February.

The multi-agency group, which includes Sovereign Housing and Basing-stoke and Deane Borough Council, will work together to produce a flood risk plan to be better prepared for any future flooding and understand the actions required.

The county council will also look at investigating the potential for an overland flow route to be established to allow water above ground to be routed to an appropriate location.

Referring to the action plan, Cllr Reid said: “It won’t stop a flood, but it will give early warning and enable people to react.”

The Buckskin area has been allocated Local Levy funding of £50,000 which will contribute to undertaking feasibility and technical assessments, which will be used to bid for further funding.

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