To review how the Fownhope flood repair works were delivered and any lessons to be learned for the future.

The Committee reviewed the delivery of the Fownhope flood repair works and considered any lessons to be learned for the future.

The Chairperson remarked that the Committee had agreed to consider the matter in response to a specific request from Fownhope Parish Council.

It was noted that additional material had been published as a supplement to the agenda papers: a proposed order of business for consideration of the item, a submission by Fownhope Parish Council and photographs of the affected areas..

The Chairman reminded the Committee that, as referred to at Paragraph 45 of the report an independent review of the Fownhope Road repair projects was to be commissioned.  There was an opportunity for the Committee to propose matters for inclusion in that review.

A short video was shown showing the damage to the B4224 Fownhope Road and the extent of the flooding that had affected the County.

The Assistant Director and Acting Expert Adviser presented the report.

Representatives of Fownhope and Woolhope Group Parish Councils were then invited to comment.

Councillor John Harrington, Cabinet Member – Infrastructure and Transport then commented.

The Committee then discussed the matter asking a number of questions to which responses were given.

On conclusion of the debate representatives of Fownhope and Woolhope Group Parish Councils were then invited to make any final comments.

RESOLVED to recommend to the executive:       

That      (a)     the executive support and encourage the delivery by BBLP of projects for the benefit of the Fownhope and Woolhope communities;

              (b)     repairs to restore roads in the locality damaged by their use as a diversion route during the closure of the Fownhope Road are prioritised;

              (c)     the executive encourage Fownhope and Woolhope Parish Councils to make representations to local MPs to seek funding for highway maintenance, and highlight shortcomings in the Bellwin scheme that appear to have been revealed, and the need for that scheme to be reviewed and for other funding sources to be provided if it is concluded that the Bellwin Scheme itself does not require revision;

              (d)     the executive make further representations to local MPs to seek additional grant funding for highway maintenance, and highlight shortcomings in the Bellwin scheme that appear to have been revealed, and the need for that scheme to be reviewed and for other funding sources to be provided if it is concluded that the Bellwin Scheme itself does not require revision;

              (e)     consideration be given to whether the situation could be presented to Government as a case study highlighting the adverse impact on the local community as a result of lack of funding;

        (f)      a robust review of the risks to other lengths of the B4224 of similar topography be conducted to establish if there is a need for preventative measures;

        (g)     given the experiences on the B4224 consideration be given to whether  there any other sites in the county that could be similarly problematic in the event of flooding with a view to adopting a more preventative approach to maintenance across the county;

        (h)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52