The latest initiative to manage rivers and control flooding in Shropshire and Wales is unfolding through a series of community drop-in sessions. To shed light on the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme, the Environment Agency, along with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), has organized several sessions over the next three months.
The primary goal of this scheme is to slow the flow of water upstream, thereby reducing the flood risk downstream. The approach involves “nature-based solutions and sensitive engineering methods.”
Local businesses and residents have faced persistent flooding issues, with one business owner in Shrewsbury sharing that her establishment has been flooded 20 times since 1998. David McKnight, the flood risk manager for the West Midlands, emphasized that this plan represents “a long-term solution” with the potential to “better protect thousands of homes and businesses.”
At these sessions, attendees can expect to see displays detailing how local habitats can be preserved and improved. The agency aims to enhance the natural environment’s capacity to absorb and store carbon.
Here is the schedule for the upcoming drop-in sessions:
– **November 7** – Newtown at Newtown Library, Park Lane
– **November 26** – Llanidloes at the Hanging Gardens Project, Bethel Street
– **December 10** – Meifod at the Meifod Cobra Rugby Club
– **January 13** – Oswestry at the Oswestry Memorial Hall, Smithfield Street
– **January 29** – Shrewsbury at the Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Abbey Foregate
Defra and the Environment Agency have also committed to keeping local authorities updated on their plans. For more information, you can follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram.
