Dozens of flood defences in County Durham and Darlington are below the required condition as winter approaches, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
New figures obtained by the BBC Shared Data Unit show that, as of 20 October this year, 13% of flood defences in County Durham and 10% in Darlington inspected by the Environment Agency fell below their required standard.
A proportion of those below condition are considered ‘high consequence’, meaning they are meant to protect multiple homes or businesses.
The Environment Agency, which is responsible for the majority of flood defences in County Durham and Darlington, said it has recently invested heavily in repairs and maintenance to protect communities.
Of the 266 flood defences in County Durham, 35 were found to be below the required condition. In Darlington, 14 out of 139 fell short of the standard.
Local authorities are preparing for further disruptive weather this winter after storms Bert and Darragh caused severe disruption across the region in 2024.
A flood defence is any “asset” that provides protection from rivers, sea or standing water. Traditional flood defences, like flood walls and embankments, confine water to river channels, preventing it from spilling out in towns and cities.
Mark Readman, Durham County Council’s head of highways, said: “The majority of flood defences in County Durham are river defences which are maintained by the Environment Agency.
“We look after a small number of surface water flood defences that reduce flood risk to properties and the highway. These are inspected and maintained regularly and are in good condition.”
A Darlington Borough Council spokesperson said: “We work in partnership with the Environment Agency and Northumbrian Water to help prepare and protect the borough against the impacts of flooding.”
The Government said it has this year improved support for communities impacted by flooding and inclement weather by investing £10.5 billion in flood defences until 2036.
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “Protecting communities in England from the devastating impact of flooding is a top priority – which is more important than ever as climate change brings more extreme weather.
“Each year, we complete up to 165,000 inspections of flood assets across the country and have recently redirected £108 million into repairs and maintenance. This will help to ensure the strongest protection for nearby communities.
“If the performance of an asset is reduced, then immediate action is taken to ensure that flood risk continues to be effectively managed until the asset is fully repaired or replaced.”
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
