"It’s like 2007 again" – outrage as Lincoln’s inadequate flood defences fail to protect residents

Lincoln’s Liberal Democrat councillors respond to Storm Babet.

Councillor Clare Smalley, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Abbey Ward, commented: “Words fail me when describing what I’ve seen this morning. Flood defences have failed, there are no sandbags available and water has entered homes on Stamp End. Water has entered multiple homes, sewage is coming up and people have had to book hotels. It’s like 2007 again.

“We warned authorities repeatedly that the flood defences, after years of no maintenance, were in a poor state of repair and local people were concerned. Well local people have been proved right and the flood defences have acted like a sieve. Council bosses should hang their heads in shame.

“Local people are fed up with the ‘fingers crossed’ approach to tackling flooding locally. From the poorly-maintained flood defences on Cannon Street to blocked drains – people living in the Stamp End area were left to the mercy of Storm Babet. City of Lincoln Council has questions to answer - they have a duty to protect council tenants, and they have failed.

“The constant flooding under the Spa Road rail bridge is a danger to life, as seen with the tragic incident in Liverpool this August. With 330 new homes planned on the former power station site, leaving this route flooded for extended periods of time will only affect more people as the years go on. We need investment to protect this vital route for people and businesses.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Martin Christopher added “We’ve requested information on recent gully and drain cleaning from the County Council – as local councillors we are forever reporting blocked drains. Without proactive action from the council to clear street drains, surface water flooding is exacerbated and continues to plague communities across Lincoln.

“We need a joined-up approach to flood resilience, learning the lessons from Storm Babet. As the climate changes we will likely see more deluges on this scale. The time for warm words and council press releases is over – residents demand action, investment, and certainty that this will not happen again.”