Although the Environment Agency has an ongoing project to improve the flood defences for Barton upon Humber with regards to flood risk from the River Humber, there will remain a risk of flooding from surface water and ground water after heavy rainfall events.
The government agency, Defra, has published data[1] that indicates that the worst rainfall events (i.e. those that may happen once every 30 years) will increase in severity by up to +35% by 2050 due to climate change. It is during these most severe events that the risk of flooding by surface and ground water is high.
Barton has several ground water streams entering the combined sewer system, bringing water down from the surrounding wolds, risking the sewers becoming overloaded and bringing sewage water out onto the streets and into homes. This is compounded by the fact that much of the town is dish-shaped, with little natural slope for run off of surface water. In addition, over increasingly long periods, the outfalls into the Humber will be closed as tides get ever higher, again due to climate change.
[1] https://environment.data.gov.uk/hydrology/climate-change-allowances/rainfall?mgmtcatid=3050
what does this mean for me?
Already, insurers are starting to refuse insurance for flood risk to some households. This is only going to increase if successive governments fail to mitigate by rapidly reducing carbon emissions.
Increasing numbers of people may be unable to claim insurance for flood damage and this may repeatedly occur. Beyond this misery, homeowners may be unable to sell their property on as potential buyers may be refused a mortgage based on the lack of insurance.
If this becomes increasingly common, banks may be left with ownership of a great many properties that are repeatedly flooded and of reduced value. This may prompt yet another banking crisis, with yet another bailout by the public.
what is north lincolnshire green party calling for?
Barton’s Green councillors initiated a meeting of Barton Town Council with officers from the newly formed North Lincolnshire Council (NLC) Strategic Flood Risk team. Town councilors gave NLC officers a summary of our concerns. Specific problem areas and opportunities within Barton to reduce surface water and groundwater flood risk were highlighted.
North Lincolnshire Green Party call for NLC to fund the modelling of Barton’s surface water and sewer network, enabling any potential high flood risk areas to be more confidently identified. Only by demonstrating the risk to this level of confidence can the process of applying for funding to mitigate the risks be started.
Barton residents are ready and willing to contribute themselves to reducing flood risk in partnership, but Anglian Water should contribute towards the cost of these actions as they will benefit from the reduced energy consumption required to store and process the flow from the sewers to their facilities during peak rainfall events. North Lincolnshire Green Party call for Anglian Water to contribute funding towards Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) within North Lincolnshire such as smart/slow-draining water butts.
the costs of climate crisis inaction
It has been known for decades that the cost of reducing our carbon emissions will be far less than the cost of the impacts and any adaptation to try and lessen their impacts, but successive governments continue to act as if there is no climate emergency. These impacts are now being felt close to home.
While Reform spin lies that climate change is not man-made, The Green Party instead listens to scientific consensus. Man-made climate change is real, the impacts are being felt here and now and are accelerating. As costs increase, at some point we will lose the ability to adapt. While Richard Tice can ultimately fly off to his air-conditioned luxury apartment in Dubai, those left behind will suffer.
The Green Party calls for rapid action to decarbonise for the sake of everyone. It still remains a choice. What will you choose?
