Agenda Reports Pack (Public) 15/10/2012, 19.00 - Meetings ...

3.18. Recent research commissioned by DEFRA also looked into the nature of some ofthe barriers to change. The survey indicated that, whilst householders and smallbusiness could often recognise the benefits, including reductions in the disruptioncaused by floods, long-term financial savings and feelings of greater safety, the mainfactors deterring take-up were:► Low awareness of the available measures, with only one in ten householdersbeing able to think of a flood resilient measure.► Concerns about impacts on the appearance of the property.► Not wishing to be reminded of the risk.► Concern that such measures might adversely affect property values or makethem hard to sell.Information Sharing3.19. From the evidence above and the oral evidence given to the Task Group it is clearthat there is much that needs to be done in order to better engage and educate thepublic about flooding risk. In order for the Task Group to hear from residents abouttheir ideas, stories and the problems they have encountered with flooding in theborough a public consultation was established. The consultation was put online andwas also available for Council staff via the staff intranet. Advertisements for thescrutiny consultation on flooding were placed, including in the Chronicle newspaperand in the Council newsletter, which has a distribution of around 20,000 people.However, despite this wide advertisement, only 23 people responded to theconsultation. The low level of responses was disappointing but perhaps furtherreinforces the difficulties facing the Council in with engaging with the public onflooding risk. It may also explain why the take up of FLIPs, despite wide publicity,has been nominal. Nonetheless the responses from residents were very helpful tothe Task Group in gaining a greater insight into the problems experienced byresidents with flooding in the borough and their ideas about how to mitigate floodingrisk.3.20. The great majority of respondents had suffered from flooding, with a substantialmajority being affected by flooding in their basements. This is in line with the oralevidence presented to the Task Group. A number of residents expressed deepreservations about the amount of impermeable surfaces that were being permitted inborough, raising particular concern about people extending into their gardens. Somerespondents also highlighted the problems caused by people paving over the front oftheir properties. There was broad agreement that Thames Water needed to do moreto maintain and enhance the sewer network. In addition some respondents wished tosee an increased number of FLIPs installed. Respondents offered a number ofsolutions to mitigating surface water flood risk. These included rainwater harvesting,porous paving, water attenuation areas, banning non-porous paving for front andback gardens, green roofs, increased tree planting, higher capacity sewers and moreregular and thorough clearing and cleaning of gullies.3.21. One respondent, who claimed to have suffered from basement flooding as a result ofa blocked highway drain, noted that although their insurance company had been“good” their insurance premiums had risen as a result. The Task Group have alreadynoted their concern that many residents are fearful of reporting flooding incidents- 31 -Page 190