The Tale of Two Streams : Flooding and associated risks at Little Stretton.
Introduction
Little Stretton Village Society and its two Town Councillors have raised the issue of flooding and other risks in Little Stretton on a number of occasions. This has led, to discussions as to how we can prepare for and prevent flooding. It is really a Tale of Two Streams flowing through the village ,presenting very different risks but potentially with the same unacceptable outcomes of dwellings being flooded and detrimental impacts on the village environment. Added to this the risk of a number of natural springs and inadequate drainage systems and you cannot help but think it is a disaster waiting to happen, if preventative action is not taken.
The two streams in question are Ashes Brook and Town Brook both of which can be of great value to the village and surrounding areas
Ashes Brook
Ashes Brook has been the beneficiary of some work being carried out on it by various bodies and landowners in recent years to ensure it flows through the village without mishap. However recent changes in the climate, particularly increased rainfall, has increased the risk of flooding particularly to properties bordering the brook. Indeed the heavy rainfall of Oct/Nov24 resulted in a number of properties being flooded and damaged.
With further predicted changes in the climate, what preventative measures could be taken to try to mitigate the risk of further flooding?
It appears to have also had an adverse impact on tree rootage systems within the vicinity of its bank contributing to a number of trees being uprooted and causing damage to properties and surrounding amenities.
Little Stretton Village Society is investigating the possibility of erecting a shed within the village to house sandbags for use by residents but this is a reactive solution rather than a preventative measure.
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Town Brook
Town Brook is a different problem altogether. It is stagnant as a result of being blocked by the gulley under the railway on the south side of Elms Lane as well as blocked and overgrown ditches and drainage channels beyond this point. Consequently water does not flow downstream. As a result the brook is static all the way back to Church Stretton a distance of about 2 miles. This results in a number of problems:
- Water stagnation and a loss of natural habitats for animals e.g. water voles, insects damselflies and flora water lilies.
- Increased risk of flooding for properties in Ludlow Rd backing onto the fields at their rear. The water table here is naturally high and results in some flooding anyway but it is exacerbated by the brook not flowing and taking some of the water down stream.
- Risk to domestic stock falling into the stream and drowning because the deep stagnant water is difficult to climb out of (Landowners have take precautions to prevent this but it still happens.
- There is also a possibility that a child or even a gown up could inadvertently fall in and drown.
- A potential sewage problem was identified on the 12th December 2024 after Storm Darragh.
It could be argued that flooding these fields helps alleviate problems further downstream , whilst this is potentially true, it needs to be managed, not left to the force of nature or as a result of neglect by the relevant authorities.
Drainage and Sewer systems.
The drainage and sewerage systems in Little Stretton are inadequate and unable to provide for the resident population let alone the number of visitors attracted by the tourist attractions and hospitality industry in the vicinity. Add to this the number of potential residents and staff at Caradoc House and you have a recipe for disaster. Some of the businesses in the village have taken steps to reduce any impact they may have on the system but there is a limit as to what they are able to do .
Drains also get blocked by heavy leaf falls and other debris which are not cleared frequently enough and adds to the problem either blocking or reducing the drainage flow.
Some properties in Little Stretton have suffered significant damage to their properties due to blockages and sewage backup. This of course creates a health hazard alongside the property damage.
Springs and other risks.
The most obvious source of risk is the spring that pops up at the northern end of the village in front of the property known as The Brambles. It frequently floods the road and is a black ice threat on a stretch of road that is already dangerous due to footpath problems.
Other springs erupt in Minton Lane and Small Batch. Add to this the significant amount of water coming off the surrounding hills, particularly at times of heavy rain through other small streamlets and you have other potential problems such as landslip of trees falling from some of the steeper banks throughout the village.
Although the problems pale into insignificance compared to other areas of flooding throughout the country and the pictures included in this report being somewhat picturesque, the fact remains that if certain maintenance and preventative action is not carried out then significant threats to people and property will only increase. Prevention is better than cure as ably demonstrated by the changes in approach by fire services up and down the country in their approach to fire prevention. Similarly, the cost of flood prevention is a lot more effective and cheaper than the cost of clearing up after the event, not to mention the reduced impact on people involved from a mental and physical health point of view.
Little Stretton’s work in progress
This post is a place holder to up date about flood prevention work in progress...