Review demanded into how Thames Water tackled flooding (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Review into Thames Water's response to flooding in Cirencester and South Cerney demanded

1:00pm Friday 15th February 2013 in News

A REVIEW of how Thames Water rose to the challenge of tackling flooding in the Cotswolds has been demanded.

Cotswold District Council leader Cllr Lynden Stowe has asked Gloucestershire County Council to carry out a public inquiry into Thames Water’s response to recent flooding events. He will also ask the authority's overview and scrutiny committee to review the effectiveness of Thames Water’s expert input when consulted on planning applications.

Cllr Stowe said he sympathised with residents who had been dissatisfied with the response from Thames Water when their homes were flooded.

He said GCC's scrutiny committee had carried out a thorough investigation following the 2007 floods and were obvious choice for a new enquiry.

"(Overview and scrutiny) are well qualified to focus on Thames Water’s response to the 2012 emergency," he said. "I also think the committee should scrutinise planning applications which have been sent to Thames Water for comment to ascertain, amongst other things, whether they paid sufficient regard to the potential for flooding or sewage capacity."

Cllr Stowe added that a task group to investigate flooding in the area had already been formed with Thames Water and local authorities playing an active role.