Lib Dems Force Action on Road Flooding

12.00.00am GMT Tue 23rd Jan 2007

At today's Full Council meeting at Surrey County Council, the Liberal Democrat group pushed through a call for urgent action to improve the County's highways drainage in the face of increased rainfall due to climate change.

The motion, which was passed unanimously, forced the ruling Tory administration to acknowledge the problems facing the County and agree to implement action, including the announcement to Council that extra resources were to be made available.

Liberal Democrat County Councillor Diana Smith, who proposed the motion, said: "We know that global warming is leading to the sort of storm that used to happen every ten years now hitting several times a year, with more of the extreme 'freak' events that can be a risk to people and property. In Woking alone, there are in the region of 300 flooding events waiting for investigation and work.

"The County Council needs to sort out the places that are most vulnerable to flooding and make sure that drains are cleared, repaired, and where necessary improved so that the damage is minimised," she added. "Many Surrey residents are expressing worry about flooding from the roads by writing or e-mailing to us as Councillors. It's a really big issue and I'm glad the Council agreed with me we all need to treat it seriously. I hope we'll begin to see proper reports coming through soon, with the promised action to follow."