Flood and droughts prompt River Severn consultation

Flooding in Shrewsbury often affects homes and busineses

A consultation has been launched on how to manage water levels on the River Severn in England and Wales to help prevent flooding and drought.

More frequent bouts of extreme weather has led to the Environment Agency's (EA) sustainability project upstream of Shrewsbury and spanning an area of 965 sq miles (2,500 sq km).

The consultation aims to find solutions for flooding and water security in affected areas.

In December, Shropshire MP Daniel Kawczynski presented a £500m flood prevention plan to the government to tackle the issue in mid-Wales, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and neighbouring areas in the Severn catchment.

Significant flooding of the river in recent decades has damaged homes, businesses and infrastructure, the EA said.

"During the winter flooding of 2019 and 2020, Environment Agency flood risk management assets and schemes prevented 14,500 homes from being flooded, however approximately 1,600 homes were flooded across the catchment," the consultation said.

Flood barriers in Ironbridge were forced back by the Severn in February 2020

Conversely, during recent periods of prolonged dry weather, measures have been needed to limit the impact of low water flows.

"In 2022, the upper Severn catchment went from winter flooding conditions through to formal drought status within the space of eight months, with groundwater and reservoir stores being used to support the people and wildlife who depend on the water supply provided by the Severn," the EA added.

'Vibrant and resilient river'

The wider project aims to better protect more than 3,000 homes and 1,000 businesses from flood risk across the upper Severn catchment

The Severn Valley Water Management Scheme (SVWMS) will look at interventions including the construction of flood storage areas and embankments, natural flood risk management measures that slow the flow of water upstream such as tree planting or the creation of leaky dams, as well as alternative farming and land management practices.

Preliminary assessments of flood storage measures required across the upper Severn catchment during times of flood and high river flows equates to 65 billion litres of water - or 57 full Wembley Stadiums, the EA said.

The project aims to make the Severn "a more vibrant and resilient river catchment, where local economies prosper, and communities and natural assets thrive".

It is backed by the Welsh government and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and led by the EA, Natural Resource Wales, Shropshire Council and Powys County Council.

The public consultation runs until 21 May.