Prepared by Garforth Flood Support Group for the Garforth Neighbourhood Planning Forum AGM on Saturday 20 th September 2014

Established 2008

Flooding problems in Garforth Historic Catastrophic Recent:

Historic At least three layers of clay Indiscriminate building and attachment to inadequate drainage infrastructure since the 2 nd World War Change of Council structure and administration in 1974 reducing drain maintenance regime

1960s : Word of mouth, flooded properties since the 1960s. 1980s : Several incidents in the 1980s, none internal, so far as is recorded, other than in cellars, gardens, garages and outhouses but property damaged or lost e.g. freezer contents and garden equipment : Flooding in several areas of Garforth, many people out of their property for months. Came to light that some of these had had previous bad flooding several times since : The most widespread flooding across the town for multiple reasons (including the highest intensity of rainfall ever measured) in living memory.

Kingsway

Kingsway & Fidler Terrace Kingsway

Culvert blocked by services

Fidler Terrace

Lindsay Road

Beechgrove Terrace

Lidgett Lidgett Lane

Grange Avenue

Barley Hill Playing Field

Ditto

Ditto with Farfield Court behind

Ditto plus Cyclist

Queensway

Blocked Gullies

Lowther Rd.

Barley Hill Road

Formation of the Group DEFRA pilot scheme 2007 Personal contact after flooding 2007 Invitation to form a group 2008 Initial format 2008 Constitutionally set up 2009

Involvement with other bodies Leeds City Council....Drainage/Planning/Local Councillors (grants) Environment Agency Operation Watermark Yorkshire Water Voluntary Action Leeds: Constitution & Web site Mary Dhonau: visit & contacts Northern Flood Association, attending conferences Other Flood Groups e.g. Toll Bar, reciprocated visits

How the group is run Regular meetings Personal contact Proper agenda Proper minutes Action plan set up Regular routines e.g. gully & watercourse watch, flooding reports, planning application & building site monitoring Fund raising

Action Plan Set Up Involvement with LCC Peace & Emergency Planning Involvement with the Environment Agency Document Vital information Sub warden areas Trigger points Emergency action

Flood Store

Fund Raising Subscription, currently £5 annually Raffle at meetings Programme of events for 2014

Future Plans Flood resilience work Spreading the Message Upkeep of installed flood resilience products Help for future flood victims