Around 100 residents attended a meeting at Gunville Methodist Church on Thursday (25 April) to discuss the impact of the flooding in the area which took place last Autumn, and to see what could be done to prevent it from happening again.
As a follow-up to the meeting, Island MP Bob Seely spoke with the Council Chief Executive on Friday afternoon to make sure that residents’ concerns were being listened to.
Bob Seely MP said: “Thank you to all the residents who attended the meeting to air their concerns and thank you also to the Council officers who came along to help answer questions."
Bob was contacted by resident Kristy White over a month ago. After meeting with Kristy White and others, Bob wrote to the Council with questions drawn up by residents. Those detailed answers were provided yesterday evening.
“I thank Kristy for working with others to provide the community with leadership.
“It was clear from the meeting on Thursday evening that Gunville residents are very concerned about the risk of future flooding, especially if more houses are built in the area. Having seen the impact of the flooding on some of their houses I can understand why.
“I objected to previous plans to build more houses in the area in part because of the increased risk of flooding. The floods have hit some families very hard. As someone who has been flooded in recent months, I know how frustrating that is."
The plan is as follows:
“First, a flood report is due out soon. After this, we will need a plan in place to minimise future risk. This needs to be public and transparent. As soon as the report is out, I will speak again to the Chief Executive.
“Second, I am encouraging residents who were affected to please apply for grants to help make their property flood-proof. These grants have been brought in by this government precisely to help in situations like this. The email address to apply to is here: https://www.iow.gov.uk/keep-the-island-safe/severe-weather/november-2023-flood-support/
“If anyone has any questions, please email here: [email protected]. Any issues in relation with either of the above, please email me: [email protected].”
Cllr Paul Fuller and Cllr Joe Lever also attended the meeting.
Mr Seely said that he wanted to see better leadership among elected members of the Council.
“I thank senior Council officer Natasha Dix for turning out on Thursday night.
"However, Council officers are there to advise elected Councillors and supply facts. Elected Councillors should lead. Natasha led the conversation at the Gunville residents' meeting - and in a meeting in Ventnor a couple of months ago - when it should be elected community representatives who should be standing before their residents to take responsibility for decisions and be challenged on them by residents.
“Elected Councillors should be answerable to their residents and should be leading public meetings, not Council officers."
