Wyre Flood Fourm

BEN WALLACE MP (cont)

in to get a first, second or booster dose with no appointment needed. Dates for upcoming clinics are:

• Cleveleys Community Centre,

Kensington Road: Thurs 13th, Thurs 20th and Thurs 27th Jan • Marine Hall, Fleetwood: Wed 12th,

Wed 19th and Wed 26th Jan, 1:00pm - 7:00pm • The Leisure Centre (sports hall),

Windsor Road, Garstang: Sat 8th and

Sat 15th Jan, 10:00am - 4:00pm

Despite the challenging times, I wish all constituents a happy and healthy 2022. Happy New Year! Please remember I’m here to help. The most effective way to contact me is by email with a brief description of the issues you wish to raise, along with your contact details (including home address). You can also ring my office or write to me at the House of Commons.

Ben Wallace MP t: 0207 219 5804 e: wallaceb@parliament.uk a: House of Commons SW1A 0AA

WYRE FLOOD FORUM

The Old Year certainly went out with a Bang in Garstang, as we saw the Garstang Flood Water Basin in full operation filling up very quickly when both doors were fully up after extensive maintenance during the year. The excess water from the River Wyre soon built up to form a lake on the double rugby pitches and more extensively over adjoining agricultural land. The purpose of closing the flood basin gates is to protect settlements such as Churchtown and St Michaels downstream and this they certainly did. A

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WYRE FLOOD FORUM (cont)

Garstang Councillor, Michael Halford was fortunately on hand to take a photograph with wide angle lens (posted on fb) which graphically showed the full extent of the basin. It is an important record and will be added to a library of pictures being collated to demonstrate the impact of heavy rainfall. Two other areas were severely affected. The dip where Lancaster Road and High street join is often underwater in heavy rain and the end of December was no exception. Again, photographs of rising waters blocking the main artery to Garstang from the north with diversion signs in place were posted on social media although there was much criticism of our local authorities for the actual placing of the signs which did not give enough warning of the closure meaning that drivers had to reverse or execute three point turns in busy circumstances. To add to driver’s woes, the route into Garstang from the rural west of Wyre was submerged between C&C and the Bowers. It is a stretch of a hundred yards or so and is impossible to pass except in a high SuV. Several intrepid drivers in normal saloons took risk of flooded engines in their hands and ploughed through regardless. Some paid the penalty. This stretch plus Lancaster Road will be the subject of further enquiry to see how it is that after years of experience flooding still occurs to the significant inconvenience of residents and those using the road network for their employment. Local councillors must now press for a full explanation. We see events repeating themselves countless times such as sewage on the A586 and Rawcliffe Road at St Michaels. Another spillage in mid-December caused emergency traffic lights to be erected at night and heavy vehicles belonging to United Utilities with hi viz clad men digging away in the centre of the village to resolve matters. Your scribe experienced the action on two occasions on a visit to Poulton. It was also an occasion to see the A586 full of surface water at Whites Bridge watercourse just before White House Lane. The Environment Agency have declared that they will establish the cause. No wonder that I am beginning to think we have been here before. Constructive proposals continue to come forth from FLAGS, flood action groups, and space does not allow for reports from them all but here is a taste of activity in Preesall; Preesall FLAG Reflecting back in 2021, there have been fewer instances of flooding compared to 2020 but never the less the times when the water draining off Preesall Hill via the road and also across the fields are still of concern. Speedy response from residents in placing sand bags, barriers and road warning signs prevented water from entering properties until WBC installed the pump to reduce the water

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