THE COUNTY council has unveiled its future local flood risk management strategy for Gloucestershire.

The six key objectives for Gloucestershire County Council’s (GCC) local strategy include improving the understanding of local flood risk, putting in place plans to manage those risks and to avoid inappropriate development.

The plan is to also look at increasing public awareness of flooding, ensure there is better co-ordination with other authorities in Gloucestershire and support the response to flooding incidents.

Cllr Vernon Smith, cabinet member for highways and flood at GCC, said: “It is vital that we work together with organisations and local communities to better understand and manage flood risk.

“Flooding cannot be wholly prevented, although its impact can be reduced through investment and good planning.”

The council has invested £48 million into flood management and prevention since 2007, has worked with its partners to produce the local strategy, including district councils, water companies, Environment Agency and Internal Drainage Board.

GCC has a statutory responsibility for managing flood risk specifically from ordinary water courses, surface runoff and groundwater while the Environment Agency manages flood risk from main rivers and water companies are responsible for the majority of sewers.

The cabinet’s report and results of the flooding consultation can be found at: www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/localfloodingstrategy