16/02/2005 - Sunday
27 February 2005 will see the first Tewkesbury
flood fair. The event is being held at Tewkesbury
School Sports Centre, Ashchurch Road, Tewkesbury
from 10:00am until 4:00pm.
The aim of the Food Fair is to bring together
into a ‘one-stop shop’ both the commercial
firms supplying flood protection products
and services, and the authorities involved
with promoting flood awareness and other
local flooding issues, for the benefit of
those affected by or at risk of flooding.
Attendees at the event will include the
Environment Agency, the University of Gloucestershire,
Tewkesbury Borough Council, the National
Flood Forum and Gloucestershire Rural Community
Council. The event is being is being part
funded by the Tewkesbury Local Strategic
Partnership. It was raised by members of
the public, who asked for an awareness raising
day for those affected by flooding.
The Flood Fair will feature displays of
a wide range of flood protection products,
ranging from flood doors and flood skirt
systems to the freestanding temporary defences
designed to protect larger groups of properties,
used so successfully at Shrewsbury, Ironbridge
and Worcester in the floods in February
2004.
Speaking about the event, the Environment
Agency’s area Flood Defence Manager, Anthony
Perry, says: ‘Flood fairs are important
opportunities for people to find out about
flooding and what they can do to limit its
impacts. Visitors to our stand will be able
to increase their awareness of how to prepare
for and survive flooding as well as obtain
information on the flood warning system
and how they can prepare to protect their
properties. Staff will also be on hand throughout
the day to answer questions and provide
advice.’
Gill Holland, Operations Director of the
National Flood Forum, says: ‘As a grass-roots
organisation supporting those affected by
flooding, we're delighted to be working
in partnership with the flood protection
industry, the Environment Agency and the
local authorities to facilitate the organisation
of this event. Few communities on the Severn
are likely to be defended by a capital engineered
scheme. It is therefore all the more important
to make available the ideas, advice and
information to support those at risk and
to help communities cope better themselves.’
Lindsey McEwen, of the University of Gloucestershire
says: ‘The University of Gloucestershire
will be using the Flood Fair to promote
its new project - the Lower Severn Community
Flood Information Network. This involves
making contact with local residents on the
Lower Severn who can contribute memories
or information about past flooding and its
impacts in their communities. It would be
great if people with information such as
photographs and diary accounts of flood
impacts could come along and share it with
the team.’
Kate Forrest, Gloucestershire Rural Community
Council’s Rural Adviser for Tewkesbury says:
‘The need for such an event was raised during
a community consultation event held in one
of the rural parishes on the banks of the
River Severn in early 2003. We have finally
been able to organise this exciting Flood
Fair, which offers the rural residents of
the borough the opportunity to learn more
about the floods that affect them and the
precautions which can be taken to protect
both themselves and their property.’
Chris Pike of Tewkesbury Borough Council
says: "This is a good opportunity for
those affected or threatened by flooding
to come along and see the type of actions
they can take to help themselves. It will
also be a good chance to see how they can
get information at the times of flooding"
Editors’ notes:
Interviewees from each organisation are
available on request and the media are welcome
to attend the event.
The first flood fair was held at Bewdley
in June 2001, on the initiative of Bewdley
Residents’ Flood Committee. The secretary
of this group, Gill Holland, then took the
idea down the Severn to Gloucester and helped
The Alney Group put on a flood fair in August
2001, and Severn Area Rescue Association
to organise a flood fair for Upton in November
2001.
The original Bewdley fair triggered the
formation of the National Flood Forum, a
grassroots organisation set up and run by
people affected by flooding. In the past
three years the Forum has organised or facilitated
over 20 flood fairs throughout England and
Wales in partnership with community groups,
local authorities, emergency planning units
and the Environment Agency itself.
Flood fairs not only provide a marketplace
for the small and scattered flood protection
industry. They also provide the opportunity
for organisations such as the Environment
Agency, the local authorities and the water
companies to hear from members of the public
at firsthand about the problems they are
facing.
At the same time those agencies have the
opportunity to distribute publications,
explain policy and promote to their target
audience the work they are doing to alleviate
flooding and manage flood risk.
Flood protection products can now be accredited
under a BSI Kitemark Scheme, and it is hoped
to include all seven firms that have achieved
this quality standard.
