A FLOOD Risk Action Group (FRAG) will be established by Cheshire West council following the release of the Section 19 report into the 2019 Northwich, Weaverham, and Winsford floods.

The group, to be headed up by deputy leader Cllr Karen Shore, will ‘oversee earliest positive and effective delivery of the recommended actions’ from the full investigation into the incident.

However, opposition councillors and representatives for Northwich have warned CWAC’s cabinet they will be keeping up the pressure on leaders over the recommendations.

Presenting the proposals to cabinet, Cllr Shore said: “I want to say on a personal level that we recognise the importance of this to residents and sadly the impacts are immense.

“We are simply not willing to leave this to chance and we are not willing to leave this on an indefinite time frame. We will do all we can to mitigate all impacts [of flooding].

“I want to focus on delivery of actions and not writing more words. We know that this is a very important and emotive issue.”

Responding, Marbury Conservative member Lynn Gibbon said: “I am pleased to have access to the long awaited [section 19] report. However, 18 months is far too long to wait for the report for something residents class as needing an urgent response.

“I hope that the 2021 report will come forward faster.

“There is nothing on early warning systems for communities or guidelines for residents. There are quick wins but no timelines for action. There’s no mention of working with residents on Weaver locks in my ward — they felt and still feel abandoned.”

EXPLAINED: What investigators say caused 2019 floods

Later in the meeting, Cllr Bob Cernik — a Northwich Winnington and Castle representative and cabinet member — admitted the report had taken too long to be published.

Other criticism came from Cllr Charles Fifield, Conservative member for Weaver and Cuddington.

He said: “Dredging of the River Weaver is only mentioned three times and is summarily dismissed, whilst Riparian owners are encouraged in essence to dredge their own drains and streams to assist water flow.

“The River requires a certain depth to allow navigation, but dredging would allow the River level itself to be reduced, as the volume of silt would be replaced by water, something Archimedes established 23 centuries ago.

“While this may only make a small difference, at high water mark those extra few inches could prevent disaster. A new specific recommendation should be added to assess this.”

Ultimately, the cabinet did not amend the proposals to incorporate the dredging recommendation, but said it would be examined by the FRAG.

On the FRAG, Labour councillors from Northwich were keen to stress that they would be keeping a close eye on its work.

Cllr Sam Naylor said: “I was elected to represent the residents of Northwich, and businesses, institutions within it. I see my job of holding the council and wider bodies to the most immense scrutiny.

“I do not care who is to blame.”

The establishment of the group was passed unanimously.