Flood prevention work in Warrington a year after Storm Christoph

This is the view of the Environment Agency as it looks back over the 12 months’ worth of work in the town that followed intense flooding which devastated homes.

It was on January 20, 2021, that the storm made impact in Warrington, resulting in water levels reaching 450mm higher than previous records.

Since then however, the agency says action has been taken to protect homes, businesses and transport links costing millions of pounds.

Ollie Hope, the EA’s area flood and coastal risk manager for Cheshire, said: “Storm Christoph had a devastating impact on our communities when record-breaking rainfall led to some of the highest river levels ever recorded.

“During the storm, our £34million flood defences in Warrington helped to protect more than 2,000 homes and businesses, but sadly a number of properties in Dallam, Callands, Sankey Bridges and Longford did suffer from flooding, and we continue to work with residents to help them to recover.

Teams work to upgrade Dallam Brook pumping station

“We are taking further action to protect properties and infrastructure across Warrington by delivering on the Government’s £5.2billion investment in new flood and coastal defences to better protect 336,000 properties by 2027.

“This record investment includes schemes on Sankey Brook and Penketh and Whittle Brooks which tackle tidal, river and surface water flood risk.

“On Sankey Brook, Dallam Brook and Longford Brook, we are currently planning a Flood Risk Management Scheme, working with key partners Warrington Borough Council and United Utilities, that will better protect 580 homes and businesses on completion.

“The scheme is currently at the appraisal stage, where the preferred or final option will be determined, and there are a number of potential flood risk measures that are being considered.”

As well as this, EA teams on the ground have been undertaking recent maintenance activities on Sankey, Dallam and Longford Brooks, including vegetation management and the removal of debris and blockages.

The Penketh and Whittle Flood Risk Management Scheme is also now under construction and is scheduled for completion in autumn 2022.

“It will reduce flood risk to 221 properties from Penketh and Whittle Brooks and is being delivered alongside our partners at Warrington Borough Council,” Ollie added.

The Environment Agency clearing the grid at Morris Brook

“By working collaboratively with local people and partners, we have been able to identify solutions to already better protect 20,000 homes across Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire.

“We look forward to taking these new schemes forward in Warrington and we will keep residents informed every step of the way.”

An EA spokesman added that teams are ready to respond to flooding, but even with defences in place the agency can never completely eradicate the risk.

“It is important that people are resilient, and being prepared is key – people who live in a flood risk area need to know what to do should the worst happen,” they said.

“People should go online at gov.uk to check their flood risk, sign up to receive flood warnings and prepare a flood plan.

“Taking steps to prepare for flooding and knowing what to do in a flood can significantly reduce the damages to a home and possessions, reduce risk to life and reduce the likelihood of suffering from mental health impacts in the future.”