The Environment Agency and partner organisations have unveiled artists’ impression of a new scheme to protect the Surrey town centre.
Located on the River Way, Guildford has a long and often costly history of flooding. This includes torrential downpours in 1900 which destroyed most of the old Town Bridge, the once-in-a-millennium disaster in 1968 – the worst in living memory – and more recent deluges in 1987 and 2013-14, which devastated home, livelihoods and infrastructure.
In a bid to improve the town’s chances of combatting future flood risks, the Environment Agency, Guildford Borough Council and Surrey County Council are now working on a long-term, sustainable scheme focused on the central streets and neighbourhoods.
On Saturday 17th January, an afternoon session will be held at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre – between 12pm and 5pm.
This will be followed by a meeting between 3pm and 6pm at the town council’s offices on Thursday 22nd January.
An online session will also be held via Microsoft Teams, between 7 and 8PM, on Tuesday 20th January. You can register for this here.
‘Flooding can have a devastating impact on our homes, businesses and daily lives, and we want to do everything we can to reduce that risk. The Guildford Flood Alleviation Scheme is an important step towards protecting our town for the future,’ said Cllr Julia McShane, Leader of Guildford Borough Council. ‘I’d love to see as many residents as possible come along, meet the team and find out more about the plans. Your views really matter. Together, we can make Guildford stronger and more resilient.’
Image: Jonathan Ford / Unsplash
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