RESIDENTS and business owners are invited to comment on plans to protect 1,000 homes and businesses from possible flooding caused by the River Roding.
The plans affect properties across Redbridge and Epping Forest and include a flood storage area near Chipping Ongar, improvements to surface water drainage in Woodford and changes to river management and maintenance.
The plans have been drawn up by the Environment Agency who said the risk of flooding across the River Roding area is increasing because of climate change and the increasing pressure of urban development.
The River Roding has a long history of flooding. More than 300 properties in Woodford were flooded in 2000, and more than 1,500 properties close to the river are currently at risk from a combination of river and surface water flooding.
Environment Agency Area Manager Julia Simpson said: “Whatever plans we have for managing flood risk, we must spend public money wisely and we have reassessed how we are already spending this money in some places.
“Where we are planning new flood alleviation measures, we will need contributions from private, public and voluntary organisations, and communities who will benefit most from our work.”
The plans will be available to view on August 23 at Broadmead Baptist Church, Chigwell Road, Woodford Green, IG8 8PE.
They can also be seen online at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/roding.
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