Northwich councillor's anger as London Road is hit by flooding

Grids have been overflowing in London Road this morning, January 15, close to Waitrose and Northwich Marina – where the Environment Agency had issued a red flood warning.

Cheshire West and Chester Council, United Utilities and Environment Agency have been at the scene, while the town's £7 million flood defences were again put to the test.

Cllr Naylor believes the issue is down to drainage

Cllr Sam Naylor says it is 'clearly a drainage issue' and is eager to know what exactly has been learned from the last flooding incident in autumn 2019.

"Unless it rains particularly badly again I think we might be OK," Cllr Naylor told the Guardian.

"The flood defence system is there to protect the town but it is obviously the drainage that is not coping. No premises have been affected and they are going to get some pumps out to get rid of the water.

London Road has been hit by flooding

"But clearly we need to be saying – what have we learned from 15 months ago? How can we stop this happening again?"

Businesses such as Vision Express and Holland and Barrett were affected by the floods in autumn 2019, and Cllr Naylor says they have been provided with sandbags to prepare in case of any further heavy rain this weekend.

But the Labour member on CWAC and Northwich Town Council is frustrated that the Section 19 report on the 2019 floods – which investigates what happened – is still yet to be released.

Water levels have risen at the town's rivers

He said: "All the relevant agencies have given evidence – CWAC, United Utilities and the Environment Agency.

READ > Northwich hit by flooding and high river levels following heavy rain

"We did have an interim report, and in that it said we have put in place measures that mean hopefully we won't see a repeat.

"We've spent millions on flood defences and we are still having issues. I'll be a much happier man when that full report is released."