Local Climate Impacts Profile For Walsall Council
Project Manager: Carol Edmondson, Climate Change Team, Walsall Council
Telephone: 01922 652864
E-mail: [email protected]
Research by: Groundwork Black Country Telephone: 0121 530 5500
Email: [email protected]
Contents
1 Executive Summary
1.1 Background 2 1.2 Summary of results 3 1.3 Identified costs 3 1.4 Recommendations 4
2 Background
2.1 Project Background 7 2.2 Introduction to a Local Climate Impacts Profile (LCLIP) 7 2.3 Methodology 8 2.4 Classification of extreme weather impacts 8
3 The local climate and weather
3.1 Geographical context 9 3.2 Temperature 9 3.3 Precipitation 12 3.4 Wind 13 3.5 Storms 15 3.6 Frost/snow 16 3.7 Atmospheric particulates 17 3.8 Humidity 18 3.9 Climate Change 19
4 Service Impacts
4.1 Storms 21 4.2 Rain / flooding 21 4.3 Sun / heat 24 4.4 Snow and ice 26
5. Conclusion 28
Appendix 1 30 National Indicators relating to climate
Appendix 2 31 Meteorological stations, glossary and references
Appendix 3 32 Media Trawl Database
2 1 Executive Summary
1.1 Background
The weather has historically had a major impact upon the way human society has developed. More than ever before changing weather patterns have the potential to impact heavily upon how we live our lives. It is now an accepted scientific fact that our climate is changing, and local authorities must act proactively to adapt to the world of tomorrow. The concept of ‘future proofing’ is now essential to local and central Governance.
Creating a sustainable society is the challenge set by central Government, but delivered by local authorities. Adaptation to the changing climate is crucial to this, and is a task for every section of society. ‘Sustainability’ takes into account social, economic and ecological factors and these are all greatly impacted by climatic events. It is the local authority duty to set an example and lead the way by identifying how their services will be affected in the future and strategically planning for this.
The following extract is taken from Walsall Council’s Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan:
“Combating climate change is recognised as a major issue for us all that will continue to have far reaching effects on people and places, economy, society and environment.”
In recent years issues of Sustainable Development and Climate Change have become integral at all levels of policy development and service provision. In 2005 the UK Government updated its Sustainable Development Strategy and in 2008 passed the first ever Climate Change Act. The task of managing UK carbon emissions has also been the centre of three Energy White Papers (2003, 2006 and 2007). The Government also included a number of climate change related indicators within the National Indicators by which Local Authorities will be judged. Most crucially in this case NI 188: Planning to Adapt to Climate Change.
The UK has passed legislation which introduces the world’s first long term legally binding framework to tackle the dangers of climate change. Defra 1
Walsall has been in the frontline of the regeneration and redevelopment of the West Midlands. In the 2001 census, the town had a population of 170,994 with the wider borough having a population of 253,500. The area has a rich industrial heritage but also a heritage of historical emissions. It is widely acknowledged that the changes in our climate we are currently experiencing are as a result of past emissions. It is the job of the local authority to mitigate the borough’s current emissions and adapt to future changes in climate that will happen as a result of the emissions of today.
In order to do this they must first understand how the weather and climate have previously impacted upon their services, identifying trends and costs not just in terms of
1 http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/legislation/
3 economics but also socially and ecologically. Carrying out a Local Climate Impacts Profile (LCLIP) marks an important step in this process.
1.2 Summary
The process of carrying out the Local Climate Impacts Profile has demonstrated evidence of the wide variety of impacts extreme weather events have had in Walsall. The media trawl reflects current thinking on climate change in that there is little pattern in the extreme weather events recorded. Rather the weather events are becoming more frequent but less predictable, and as such harder to plan for.
It has been difficult to quantify these impacts due to the current recording processes in place. Often impacts of weather events have not been recorded as such, rather these impacts have been absorbed into wider data i.e. staff time for dealing with weather anomalies. It has, however, been possible to identify a small number of financial costs (these are summarized below). Costs in terms of damage to the local authority’s reputation are much harder to measure.
A detailed summary of the weather events recorded between 1998 and 2007 are given in Section 4 of this document. Prior to this, Section 3 deals with the local climate of Walsall and projected future climatic changes.
Overall, Walsall has suffered from a number of extreme weather events that are likely to increase in frequency in the future. For the most part council services have dealt with direct impacts successfully. However it is the indirect and knock-on consequences that will be crucial in Walsall’s adaptation strategy. A more stringent system of recording extreme weather events must also be developed, in order that the true consequences of the changing climate can be identified.
1.3 Identified costs
The only definite costs we have been able to identify have all been as a result of flooding:
Cancelled events due to extreme weather
Cancellation of Fireworks in 1998 - £18,000
This led to the cancellation of future events at Arboretum which resulted in potential lost income in subsequent years of £35,000-£70,000 (based on each night of fireworks raising £5,000-10,000).
Poor attendance at the Illuminations due to bad weather in 1998 - £72,000
Damage to permanent infrastructure - £10,000
Roads and transport
Increased staff time for traffic management team during 2007 floods - £1000 for every 2-3 hours
Total cost of 2007 floods - £20,000
Increased salting of roads, in 2005 £3,500 worth of salt used in one night.
These are just a small percentage of the true costs of extreme weather events and their knock-on consequences. The majority of weather related costs are simply absorbed into wider operating costs, and not recorded separately. Additional staff time required in the wake of extreme weather events is an example of this. This is often recorded simply as overtime, with the reason for this overtime overlooked. Similarly the true costs of weather related infrastructure damage are often lost within maintenance budgets.
In order to truly assess the potential damage to local authority services it will be essential to record and monitor weather related costs in a more efficient way.
1.4 Recommendations
Development of a standardised system of recording impacts of weather events across the Local Authority. Information must be recorded and stored separately from traditional monitoring procedures so that true costs can be calculated. These records must also be transparent and available to all directorates.
Improve Traffic Infrastructure Management by reviewing monitoring systems related to flooding hotspots to increase efficiency so that early action can be taken.
Establish a process to review the impacts of weather events on a 2-3 year basis in order that procedures, measures and budgets can be reviewed. This will need to be an on-going process and will rely on the record keeping discussed above.
Install awareness of potential future impacts of climate change in all planning and infrastructure design. We must be looking to the climate of tomorrow rather than the climate of today.
Investigate impacts of extreme weather on local households, businesses and communities for a more rounded appreciation of true costs. There are significant financial implications related to insurance and future acceptance of climate change related claims against policies.
Investigate the possibility of taking out bad weather insurance for existing outdoor events – although this may not be financially viable.
Develop an adaptation strategy or framework for all council directorates to adhere to. Each directorate must individually assess possible future climate impacts on operations and services, and put into place measures to deal with these.
5 Review budgets for Traffic Management and Road Maintenance as current financial limitations leave them particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events.
Review all strategies and policies regarding vulnerable people/groups taking into account increased risks relating to our changing climate i.e. issues surrounding fuel poverty (NI: 187).
While local authority officers were aware of issues surrounding climate change, this appeared to be in a directorate specific fashion. Greater awareness about the wider implications of the subject would assist overall council operations and encourage cross-directorate initiatives.
Develop a strategy to increase public awareness not only of the issue, but also the likely impacts they will experience. Making people aware of these, and active in their resolution, will be less damaging to reputation when incidents occur.
Regular assessment of risk of fire in large green-spaces during periods of extreme heat. Also increased Police patrols to deal with rises in anti-social behavior during these periods.
Utilize UKCIP’s UK Climate Projections (due to be released in 2009) alongside the LCLIP to fully assess projected changes in Walsall’s future climate.
Ensure that all businesses the council deals with are also committed to tackling climate change.
Due to the relatively small area that Walsall covers it is hard to estimate the true extent of weather impacts on both a local and regional basis. It is felt that the process of carrying out a Black Country wide LCLIP would be hugely beneficial to establish thresholds that affect the region as a whole. Many weather-related impacts will be shared by each of the Black Country Boroughs, but by carrying out a joint LCLIP it will highlight how weather events in one borough may have knock-on affects in another. This process would also encourage the development of cross boundary initiatives.
6 2 Background
2.1 Project background
Climate change will affect all residents, public and private businesses and visitors to the borough. 2
Climate refers to the average weather experienced over a long period to include temperature, wind and rainfall patterns. This impact on temperature and weather patterns is what is referred to as climate change which also has social, economic and financial implications.
The importance and scale of climate change that we have already experienced, and future climatic changes, means that all sectors of the council need to assess the impact such changes will have on its activities and services, now and in the future in order to increase the resilience of the council’s buildings, facilities and infrastructure.
Adaptation addresses the effects of climate change and this study will focus on what measures will need to be put in place to increase the council’s adaptive capacity to climate change. Using existing regional research and recorded local weather events, the council will risk assess the potential impact of climate change on its buildings, local infrastructure and the way it manages its services.
2.2 Introduction to a Local Climate Impacts Profile
A Local Climate Impacts Profile, or LCLIP, is a tool that local authorities can utilize to better understand their vulnerability to weather and climate , and the impacts this may have on their operations and strategic performance.
Developed by the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP), an LCLIP ‘ is based on evidence of a locality’s vulnerability to severe weather events and in particular how these events affected a local community as well as the authority’s assets and capacity to deliver services.’ 3
The LCLIP process has been designed to combine historical data and service provider information with future climate models in order to assess the most likely future weather projections. The resource has been created to be used in conjunction with UKCIP’s UK Climate Projections (previously UK 21st century climate change scenarios), and can be a vital tool developing a council’s adaptation strategy.
Walsall Council’s Local Climate Impacts Profile is being carried out on their behalf by Groundwork Black Country, an environmental regeneration charity working across the region.
2 Walsall Council Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan 2008 - 2012 3 http://www.ukcip.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=278&Itemid=377
7 2.3 Methodology
The study made use of local newspaper archives from the last 10 years in order to obtain an overall idea of the impact of unusual weather conditions within this period. Staff members from relevant council departments were interviewed in order to build on this information and an impact report for each incident was developed, including resource implications. The findings can then be used in conjunction with data from UKCIP and the Met Office in order to consider future climate projections and their implications. The following steps were followed:
Step 1 : Undertake a media trawl and build a database of media reports to record real experience of major weather events and impact on the area
Step 2: Identify key business units and conduct interviews with key personnel involved in recorded incidents and collate supporting data
Step 3: Compile report and set thresholds.
Step 4: Determine current impacts on public service delivery and carry out risk assessments based on future weather and climate.
Step 5: Identify limitations and gaps in information.
2.4 Classifications of extreme weather impacts
The impacts to local authorities from extreme weather commonly fall into four categories;
• Service delivery • Capital and operational cost • Employee time • Reputation
These impacts can be placed into 4 categories of weather events:
• Sun - heat • Rain - flooding • Storms – wind, lightning • Snow and ice
8 3 Local climate and weather
Climate and weather are often confused. Weather is what conditions of the atmosphere are over a short period of time. Climate is how the atmosphere "behaves" over relatively long periods of time.
Information on average conditions is useful, however its limitations should be acknowledged, for example, annual averages obscure seasonality and diurnality (day/night differences). In some cases large but opposing differences may cancel each other out. These distinctions are important for management considerations. Data at borough council scale is sparse therefore much has to be gathered from material from a regional perspective. Similarly predictive modelling at low spatial scales is difficult.
3.1 Geographical context
Walsall is situated in the West Midlands, roughly to the centre to England. The city itself sits on the Birmingham plateau which is framed on three sides by the Avon, Severn and Trent. The plateau is mostly between 120 and 170 metres. The highest point within the borough is Barr Beacon at 224 metres. Altitude is an important factor on local weather patterns. Walsall lies within the Tame valley which runs into the Burton then Trent.
The West Midlands is dominated by an intensely urbanized conurbation which includes Walsall at the northern edge. The population in the region is growing at around 2% per annum, although this also differs significantly between the urban areas, where population has fallen by 5.7% over the last decade, and rural areas, where there has been a growth of 20% 6. The density of population within the region is relevant, as weather has more social effects the greater the population, which multiplies compound aspects.
Woodland area in Walsall has almost doubled since 1982 2. Data to provide information on levels and trends in biodiversity is lacking due to a historical lack of survey interest in urban areas. Despite this, woodland covers a low proportion of Walsall.
3.2 Temperature
Walsall has the lowest annual mean temperature of the four old counties of the West Midlands, which follow a roughly north south gradient 3. This is 8 oC, 2 oC less than the mean annual temperature of the West Midlands.
9 25 C ) C o
20
15
10
5
Mean Temperature monthly temperature ( temperature Temperaturemonthly Mean Average Maximum and minimum
0 daily temperature and days of air Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec frost at Penkridge weather monitoring Maximum Temperature Minimum Temperature Days of Air Frost station (1971-2000)
Central England Temperature
Walsall falls within the region monitored by the record known as the Central England Temperature. It stretches back to 1659. This is the longest instrumental climate record in existence and has been analysed extensively.
Central England Temperature has risen by about a degree Celsius since the 1970s, with 2006 being the warmest on record 1. It is likely† that there has been a significant influence from human activity on this recent warming. After a period of relative long- term stability for most of the 20th century, CET has increased by about a degree Celsius since the 1980s. This is a more rapid rise than that of the global average land-surface temperature over the same period, and considerably faster than that of the global mean temperature 1.
Changes in CET annual values (blue bars) from 1877 to 2006 relative to the average over the 1961-90 baseline period (about 9.5 oC). Error bars enclose the 95% confidence range. The red line emphasises decadal variations. (Source: MOHC)
10
Sunshine
Sunshine is most commonly regarded as good. Generally sunshine in the West Midlands is greater in the south west, decreasing to the north. Cloud cover is most frequently around 70% 5
200
150
100 Hours of Sunshine Hoursof
50
0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Penkridge Shawbury Birmingham
Average Hours of Sunshine at Penkridge (1971-2000), Shawbury (1961- 1990) and Birmingham (1961-1990) weather monitoring station
Urban Heat Island Effect
The Birmingham and Black Country conurbation exhibit a detectable heat island effect. It is caused by urban heat sources and changes to the radiation balance of the surface. It is often most distinct at night. The effect is largest in Birmingham city centre where the difference can be 4.62 oC warmer 9. This effect can be reasonably expected to grow as the West Midlands conurbation and Walsall continues to urbanise.
Recent trends in the West Midlands Climate 6
• Annual average temperature has risen by +0.6 oC since the 1900s • Several of the warmest years on record have occurred since 1989 • Growing season has increased by 30 days since the 1900s • Nocturnal urban heat island (increased temperatures in urban areas, particularly on calm nights) intensifying
Spring Summer Autumn Winter Annual West 0.86 1.14 1.41 0.74 1.00 Midlands
11 Change in daily mean temperature ( oC) from 1914 to 2006 by season, based on a linear trend. Bold type indicates significance at the 95% level Spring Summer Autumn Winter Annual West 0.44 0.94 1.09 0.77 0.77 Midlands
Change in daily maximum temperature ( oC) from 1914 to 2006 by season, based on a linear trend. Bold type indicates significance at the 95% level
Spring Summer Autumn Winter Annual West 1.29 1.34 1.75 0.73 1.25 Midlands
Change in daily minimum temperature ( oC) from 1914 to 2006 by season, based on a linear trend. Bold type indicates significance at the 95% level
3.3 Precipitation
Precipitation includes rain, dew, sleet, wet fog and solid forms such as snow, hail and hoar frost.
Generally higher rainfall is associated with higher ground. February has been the driest month over the period 1971-2000 and December the wettest. Days with greater than 1mm are defined as wet days. These occur throughout the year with higher frequency in spring and winter.
Intense rainfall occurs most often in summer during convective thunderstorms. Urban catchments have unnatural drainage systems. Those in Birmingham may not be able to accommodate intense precipitation 6.
1971-2000 averages for Total monthly rainfall (mm) and number of wet days (rainfall greater than 1mm) at Penkridge.
12 Recent trends in the West Midlands Climate 6
• The frequency of drought episodes in England and Wales, as indexed by exceptional 12-month period • Non-overlapping rainfall deficiencies, shows no clear trend over the period 1776- 2006 7 • Decreasing summer rainfall since the 1880s • Increasing winter rainfall over last 150-200 years • More winter rain days and longer wet-spells since the 1960s • Heavy storms contribute more to winter rainfall totals since the 1960s • Seasonal rainfall is highly variable, but appears to have decreased in summer and increased in winter, although with little change in the latter over the last 50 years. • All regions of the UK have experienced an increase in the contribution to winter rainfall from heavy precipitation events. In summer all regions except NE England and N Scotland show decreases.
Spring Summer Autumn Winter Annual West 5.4 -17.2 4.7 -6.0 -3.8 Midlands
Change in total precipitation amount from 1914 to 2006 by season, based on a linear trend. Bold type indicates significance at the 95% level
Spring Summer Autumn Winter Annual West -2.7 -1.8 3.6 1.9 -0.7 Midlands
Change (days) in days of rain ≥ 1mm from 1961 to 2006 by season, based on a linear trend. Bold type indicates significance at the 95% level
3.4 Wind
Wind is a chaotic force. Wind is sensitive to topography and land use, for instance, hills, tall crops, stone walls, woodlands and urban areas provide shelter lowering wind speeds, gust speeds and days of gale. Conversely obstructions to the flow of the air mass can increase speeds by channelling them through confined spaces at heightened speed. This can be a problem in towns with tall buildings. These factors determine an area’s local surface roughness which has considerable effect on the wind speed. It should also be noted that wind speed increases nearly proportionally with height.
The Midlands area is one of the more sheltered parts of the UK. Winds are caused by differences in barometric pressure. The frequency of deep depressions passing is greatest in the winter causing both mean and gust speed to peak.
Of greatest interest to people is gust speed rather than average speeds this being the factor that most often produces visible or dramatic damage. Average wind speed is relevant to structural integrity where continued force over a period of time may create weakness. The Midlands reach ‘gale force’ on around 2 days a year. This is where wind reaches a mean speed of 34 knots or more over any ten consecutive
13 minutes. Noteworthy storms in the West Midlands include 2 January 1976 and 25 January 1990. Very light or calm winds with no preferred direction usually occur for around 5% of the year.
Intensity
99
M 98
Central Wal sall 97
96
95 99 00 01 02 03
4.5 -4.75 4.75 -5 5-5.25 5.25 -5.5 Data on estimated average wind speed for 1km square at 10m above ground level from the Department of Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform wind speed database plotted against OS Grid square
The above chlorpleth maps wind speed as predicted from topology. Full details of the data set are available at:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/energy/sources/renewables/explained/ wind/windspeed-database/page27326.html
The data can only be used as a guide and should be followed by on-site measurements for a proper assessment
Direction
0 (N) 340 20
320 40
300 60
280 80
260 100 Directional distribution of wind at 09:00 at Coleshill weather 240 120 monitoring station (01/01/1998 to 31/12/2007) 220 140
200 160 180 (S)
14
This distribution map shows wind predominately from a southern direction. This reflects local topographic factors at Coleshill. Walsall, occupying a reasonably flat plateau location can be reasonably expected to have winds predominately from the South-west, the UK prevailing wind direction. This does illustrate the importance of local area factors.
Tornadoes
The UK has the highest frequency of reported tornadoes per unit area in the world. They are inherently unpredictable but can be expected when warm moist air is rapidly replaced by cold. The tornado of 28 July 2005 in Birmingham was one of the strongest tornadoes to affect the UK in 30 years. 110 knot winds ripped through Kings Heath, Moseley, Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath.
Recent trends in the West Midlands Wind 6
• Record wind speeds in 1987 and 1990 • No long-term trend but cluster of severe gales in the 1990s
3.5 Storms
Storms are of considerable interest to all, especially future trends.
The total number of severe storms per decade over the UK and Ireland during the half year period October to March, from the 1920s to the 1990s. Error bars show ± one standard deviation‡. (Source: Rob Allan, MOHC)
Possible trends in severe wind storms around the UK are difficult to identify, due to low numbers of such storms, their decadal variability, and by the unreliability and lack of direct wind speed observation. So far there is little evidence that the recent increase in storminess over the UK is related to man-made climate change 1.
15 Lightning
Severe damage to property can result from lightning. These can range from ignition of fires and gas explosions to structural damage. Trees are regularly victims of strikes. Humans are also reasonably frequent victims. No data on lightning strikes in Walsall has been found so far.
3.6 Frost and snow
Frost
Frost is a hazard for plant life; therefore temperate plants base much of their annual behaviour on this. A frost out of season can kill or substantially harm plants. Humans are affected by frost in several ways too. Roads can become icy and all professions dependent on plants e.g. farmers are subject to its variations. Many weather events are subject to several different definitions. For instance frost can be air frost or ground frost. A hoar frost is the formation of white crystals on materials such as grass.
Snowfall
Met Office 1971-2000 averages for Walsall Borough indicate 18 to 22 winter days of sleet or snow, 14-22 spring days sleet and snow, 1-1.5 autumn days sleet and snow and an unsurprisingly insignificant amount of summer snow. Over most of the West Midlands snowfall is normally confined to the months from November to April.
Snowfall is closely related to temperature and is a highly variable weather occurrence. For example, in Birmingham there were 75 days with snow lying in the unusually cold winter of 1962-1963 but only 2 days in winter 1960-1961. A problem associated with deep snowfall is drifting due to wind, which can seriously escalate disruptions.
Two examples include 9 January 1982 when 36 hours of snow accompanied by easterly gales produced drifts that were locally over 1 metre deep. On 7 and 8 December 1990, snow between 20cm and 40cm deep was whipped into 2 meter drifts by strong North Easterly winds.
Recent trends in the West Midlands Climate 6
Generally there have been fewer snowfall events since the 1960s. In addition the snowfalls that have occurred have become smaller.
Spring Summer Autumn Winter Annual West -5.7 -0.1 -2.2 -13.4 -23.2 Midlands
Change in days of air frost from 1961-2006 by season, based on a linear trend. Bold type indicates significance at the 95% level
16 3.7 Atmospheric particulates
Dust
Walsall currently rates itself unsatisfactorily for street detritus 3. Aside from nuisance value dust is hazardous to health at sizes that can navigate the airways e.g. those less than 10 microns. The risk from dust is obviously compounded by wind causing it to become airborne.
Atmospheric dust may increase in future if downwind land use changes to more arable farming.
Leaves
The reaction of vegetation to climate is a complex subject. Generally deciduous trees shed their leaves in autumn. Stress of trees is another large factor for instance lack of water, intense heat and disease e.g. bleeding canker disease showing symptoms on 49% of Horse Chestnut in the summer of 2008 3. This caused significant out of season leaf fall. Leaf shed entails cleansing costs and can cause problems.
18-Nov
08-Nov
29-Oct
19-Oct
09-Oct
29-Sep
19-Sep 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Ash Silver birch Horse chestnut Pedunculate oak Sycamore
Average date of leaf fall by tree species in the UK
Leaf shed is well synchronized between species. Leaf tint and fall can be earlier because of cooler conditions in the later part of the year which ended the growing season sooner (true for 2006). The reverse is true, where warmer autumns lengthen the growing season. Walsall currently rates itself as good in respect of managing leaf fall 3.
17 3.8 Humidity
Humidity interacts with other weather types. It tends to peak during and after rainfall events especially when the air is warm. Calm atmosphere also allows moisture to build up at ground level. Humidity restricts visibility and benefits fungal organisms and many types of plants. There is a decrease in relative humidity across all seasons in the West Midlands.
Spring Summer Autumn Winter Annual West -2.6 -3.3 -3.1 -3.1 -3.1 Midlands
Change in relative humidity from 1961 to 2006 by season, based on a linear trend. Bold type indicates significance at the 95% level
3.9 Climate Change
Warming of the global climate system is unequivocal, with global average temperatures having risen by nearly 0.8 ºC since the late 19th century, and rising at about 0.2 ºC/decade over the past 25 years.
Ascribing individual events or trends in one area relative to climate change is impossible. However, observed changes in the Central England Temperature record has been described as likely to have had significant influence from human activity 1
Climate predictions
Future climate has been modelled by the UK Climate Impacts Programme at the University of Oxford Centre for the Environment and is funded by Defra. According to this model by 2020, a date we are only 11 years away from, summers might be expected to be between 0.5 and 1.5 oC warmer than baseline.
Potential changes in temperature under two of the UKCIP02 scenarios for Low Emissions and High Emissions for the 2020s, 2050s, and 2080s. The changes are relative to the baseline temperature experienced between 1961 and 1990.
18 Potential changes in precipitation under two of the UK CIP02 scenarios for low emissions and high emissions for the 2020s, 2050s, and 2080s. The changes are relative to the baseline precipitation experienced between 1961 and 1990.
Projected changes have little context without imagined consequences. The Stern Report on the Economics of Climate Change covers many of these.
The figure below illustrates the types of impacts that could be experienced as the world comes into equilibrium with more greenhouse gases. The top panel shows the range of temperatures projected at stabilisation levels between 400ppm and 750ppm CO2e at equilibrium. The solid horizontal lines indicate the 5-95% range based on climate sensitivity estimates from the IPCC 2001 and a recent Hadley Centre ensemble study. The vertical line indicates the mean of the 50th percentile point. The dashed lines show the 5-95% range based on eleven recent studies. The bottom panel illustrates the range of impacts expected at different levels of warming. The relationship between global average temperature changes and regional climate changes is very uncertain, especially with regard to changes in precipitation. This figure shows potential changes based on current scientific literature.
19
Stabilisation levels and probability ranges for temperature increases (From the Stern Report on the Economics of Climate Change)
20 4 Service Impacts
4.1 Storms
Damage to infrastructure
Gales in November 2002 caused damage to roofs and left a number of residents without power.
Later in 2003 homes were struck by lightening in Bloxwich, resulting in more roof damage and a breakdown in electricity supply. Many properties and gardens were damaged during gale force winds on Jan 18 th 2007. Higher winds over recent years have resulted in more drains being blocked by leaves and debris. Whilst local housing is not directly affected by this, the situation has given rise to some flooding after heavy rainfall, and highlights how extreme weather can have many interconnected impacts on council services (see section 4.2 on land drainage).
Outside Events – Leisure
A high frequency of storms in November 2000 significantly reduced the number of people attending the Illuminations, down by 61,000 from the year before. The Tourism and Marketing Manager reported the high number of wet nights during this period (21 out of a total of 45) made 2000 an especially tough year.
Gales in January 2007 resulted in 7 parks being closed due to public safety. Mobile patrols were carried out in 3 parks to monitor the situation.
Fallen trees – Leisure
In November 2000 storms caused a tree to be uprooted causing damage to three gardens in Pelsall. The Fire Service was called in to clear the debris. Gales in 2002 caused several trees to collapse, although without any significant impacts.
4.2 Rain/flooding
Outside events – Leisure
Walsall Tourism and Marketing Manager reported that the Walsall bonfire celebrations in 1998 were cancelled for health and safety reasons at a cost of £18,000. This resulted in a deficit of nearly £10,000 in the council’s budget. The celebrations were again cancelled in 1999 due to bad weather, prompting the Events Team to abandon bonfires at the Arboretum. The lost income as a result of this decision is potentially between £35-£70,000 (each night was expected to raise £5,000-£10,000). However this figure should be interpreted with some caution as there are other bonfires within the borough whose attendances may have swelled in the meantime.
The bad weather in over 4 weeks in November 1998 resulted in a 25% reduction in attendance for the Illuminations and an estimated loss of £72,000. The situation
21 prompted officers to look at taking wet weather insurance for events in the future. According to the BBC, November was the wettest November since 1970, and the wettest autumn period since 1766. November 2000 later topped that record.
A Fun Day in June 2007 was cancelled in King George V Park, after the field became waterlogged following 4 days of rain.
Flooded Green Spaces – Leisure
There have been a number of instances when playing fields were flooded following heavy rain.
Walsall Arboretum was also flooded in November 2000 requiring a maintenance crew to clear the damage, and again during the illuminations in 2002.
Heavy rains in the spring and summer of 2007 resulted in several local parks becoming waterlogged. Walsall Arboretum suffered from particularly bad flooding, with the water level reaching 4ft in some places. This was the worst flooding in over 10 years and required a major clean-up operation.
Roads and transport
Flooding incidents along main transport links, such as the Queslett Road in Great Barr in 2000, have caused widespread disruption. Cars and homes were inundated, sometimes by up to 5 feet of water, and the Fire Service was called in to help local residents clear up the damage. In the summer of 2007 main roads were left underwater causing major traffic disruption and rail service cancellations. Rain eroded road surfaces in Shelfield, which was then closed for 2 weeks due to public safety. The A461 was also closed for several days, resulting in congestion of alternative routes. The emergency services were put under severe strain, as fire fighters struggled to cope with hundreds of calls.
In terms of organisational response, the Traffic Management Team already have policies in place, including alternative routes for known ‘Hot Spots’. Nevertheless management is usually reactive in nature, as conditions vary widely according to the particular situation. For example the timing of floods can be crucial – if it occurs at peak times (such as rush hour) the impact will be high and vice versa. During the 2007 floods, the traffic management team needed to work longer hours. Each time a team is called out it costs £1000 for every 2-3 hours.
Fleet Services
The fleet services depot always floods in times of really heavy rain. Given that this department has responsibility for council vehicles and those of contracted services, e.g. waste, social services, leisure, grounds maintenance, gritters, gulley cleaners etc, this creates a knock on effect to maintenance vehicles getting out, and, for example, cleaning the blocked drains which may already be contributing to flash flooding of surface water.
22 Land drainage issues
There is consistent evidence that the drainage system is inadequate in dealing with storm water and heavy rainfall, a theme recurring across many parts of the UK. The Operational Field Services Manager has noted that short intense storms will become more frequent, and the current sewer network is only designed to cope with the demands of 19 th century flows, not of the 21 st century. This is all the more significant given that the Walsall Flood Plan 2009-2011 admits that “it is unlikely that any warning would be possible for flooding resulting from flash flooding when surface water drains cannot cope”. Effective monitoring of known trouble spots by local authorities will therefore be increasingly important.
The ‘ State of the Environment Report’ for Walsall in 2006 documented that the highway services suffer from under-funding and a lack of resources. This is likely to compromise their ability to respond to flooding events, and creates extra strain during the intervening periods. For example Tim Edwards from the Highways Agency explained how gulley cleaning and winter maintenance has suffered recently, as three gulley crews have been cut back to two. There are 36,000 gullies in the borough, so they are less well maintained, and, following the heavy flooding of 2007, the road cleaning team are now two and a half months behind on gulley maintenance. Already the council have suffered damage to their reputation from the local press, who criticised the financial cut backs. Furthermore the services were privatised in November 2008, which may lead to more cost cutting.
Yet despite these cuts, the floods in 2007 lead to increased costs of around £20,000, about 15% of the total budget. A new management structure is now in place with the services team checking met office weather details on a daily basis. The team’s response is based on information as it arrives, rather than following a set routine as before. While some work has managed to clear the ‘black spots’, there is still a backlog which will affect the public in the longer term.
Contrastingly, the Emergency Planning Team report that in general Walsall has a good drainage clearing regime, and that generally Walsall doesn’t flood. Flooding in the region is usually around Shrewsbury, Worcestershire and along the Trent. Walsall’s ‘command and control’ framework is a recognised and nationally agreed structure that involves all of the rescue and emergency/support services. Consequently this framework “retains sufficient flexibility to suit local circumstances and the evolving situation, while controlling the emergency with defined levels of command” (Walsall Flood Plan 2009-11). In implementing management from the bottom up, local authorities are in a strong position to manage different levels of responsibility and are in accordance with measures of best practice (See learning lessons from the 2007 floods).
Environmental Health
A sudden downpour after a dry spell can cause sewage systems to flood (blocked drains). Officers from the Environmental Health Team often have to spend time dealing with incoming calls and explaining what the law is and the processes involved in getting a legal notice. Legal notice (served to those responsible for the upkeep of the drains) usually takes a week, and officers often advise people to have
23 the drains cleaned themselves. This situation is significant in that it is widely accepted that climate change will lead to more intensive storms in the UK, especially in the summer. “More intense rainfall will increase pressure on flood defences and our often overloaded drains. Every year 7,000 people suffer sewer flooding, with 50% of floods in urban areas caused by poor drainage” (Association of British Insurers 2007).
4.3 Sun/heat
Property
The heat wave in summer 2003 caused a rise in burglary crime resulting from open windows in unoccupied rooms.
Public health
In Brownhills, the public swimming pools became contaminated and were unsuitable for swimming and therefore a health risk.
In 2005, elderly residents were warned about the risks of hot weather causing food poisoning, and the need to check their fridge temperatures. In 2006 the extended heatwave compromised the health of vulnerable people such as the elderly and very young. The Met Office Solar Index hit seven over three days during the end of July, indicating that the risk of skin damage was very high. There were also a number of cases of sun stroke amongst children.
The Emergency Planning team have reported that a main concern is residential homes for the elderly. Keeping the elderly cool prevents them becoming a strain on medical services. The team often rents cooling equipment which is expensive, despite a 65% discount. Furthermore such measures also have a negative effect on CO 2 emissions and electricity use. According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), the European heatwave in 2003 resulted in huge increases in hospital admissions and over 22,000 deaths. Changes in the weather have already doubled the chance of a very hot summer like 2003, and by the 2040s more than half the European summers will be warmer than 2003.
The Emergency Planning team has expressed concern about the levels of knowledge and resilience within the local population. Consequently they have produced a ‘Guide to Civil Contingencies and Resilience’ to help local residents to prepare for major incidents or accidents. This provides information dealing with heatwaves, flooding, storms and extreme cold.
Antisocial behaviour / nuisance complaints
The Environmental Health Team have reported that anti-social behaviour increases in the summer months. Warmer weather encourages people to stay out more and can make them less tolerant, resulting in an increased number of complaints. Noise complaints are particularly common in domestic properties due to open windows. Projected increases in summer temperatures mean these trends are likely to increase.
24 Internal cooling
Higher summer temperatures will increase demand for energy for cooling, leading to higher summer fuel bills. Internal cooling of offices could become a significant issue as summer temperatures rise. For example, Aylesbury Vale Council has reported that staff complaints increase markedly when temperatures are regularly over 32 oC. While there is no Health and Safety Legislation for working in high temperatures, Unions suggest 30 oC.
During the heatwave of 2006, there were widespread health warnings, such as for local bus drivers.
Passive cooling is one alternative that could be applied to new developments. Building design accommodating predicted summer temperatures could ensure comfort, save energy and minimise costs.
Fleet Services :
During the fleet change over the past 3 years, it emerged that more people are now asking for air conditioning. The added cost of this is around £1,500 per vehicle; however this may be due to AC being more common nowadays rather than any noticeable change in climate.
Ecology
The high temperatures in 2006 resulted in an explosion in the number of exotic insects seen in the area, such as the hummingbird hawk moth. There was also an explosion in the number of hover flies and clouded yellow butterflies.
The Environmental Health Team have noted that while in the past (more than 5 years ago), pest control had its peak between Easter and October, warmer winters in recent years now result in a year round flow of pest complaints. This has put a strain on services, as the team no longer have the winter period to catch up with administration and other tasks.
There has been an increase in ferros ants, normally found in hospitals and prisons, appearing in domestic situations. These are more difficult, and hence more expensive to get rid of. There has also been a consistent increase in rat complaints; 2007 had the highest number since records began in 1978.
Higher temperatures and longer growing seasons would require changes to the way parks, gardens and green spaces are managed in the future.
Fires
Extended periods of dry, hot weather increased the risk of fire throughout the borough. The Countryside Services Team noted that there is an increased fire risk to local heath and grassland in warmer weather as more people visit the countryside. This also has implications for vandalism and litter, which increase with visitor numbers. The existing team have struggled to keep on top of clean up and repair
25 operations due to a lack of investment. In 2003 major fires broke out in Aldridge caused by children playing with matches and very dry grass. Over 300 scrap cars were set alight, requiring a response by 20 fire engines and more than 100 fire fighters.
The Fire Brigade’s services are particularly affected in periods of very hot weather. The fire brigade experienced a high number of call-outs in July 2006, a summer of particularly hot weather. There was also a slight peak in activity in April 2007, when it was also warmer than average. The fire brigade began to respond by sending officers out in Targeted Response Vehicles (small van sized fire engines), to deal with grass fires, and other ‘nuisance’ fires. These vehicles are about to become a standard part of the fleet, and procedures are being developed to ensure that staff are safe, efficient and effective when using this new vehicle. However, since many of the fires started were the result of anti-social behaviour, as much as the heat, the fire service’s prevention campaigns (including going into schools) remain vital.
Roads
Tarmac began to melt on areas of the Newquay Road in Parkhill under intense heat 2006.
According to the Oxford LCLIP, the critical threshold for roads melting is 32/33 degrees Celsius combined with high levels of direct sunshine. This is likely to be experienced more frequently and will inevitably impact on the expected lifespan of new and existing roads. Transport Managers should prepare for conditions where melting occurs more frequently, and future investment plans should be adjusted accordingly.
Possible adaptation options include planting more trees to encourage shading, and a re-assessment of repairs and maintenance. Nevertheless the Highways Maintenance Team there have recorded relatively little melting of roads in Walsall up until now, and do not regard it as being significant.
26 4.4 Snow / ice
A late snowfall in April 1998 caused significant disruption in the borough. Gritting operations only run until the end of March.
Health
Walsall NHS had a record number of emergency admissions during the winter of 1999, and from December to January admissions are 17% higher than average over the past 5 years.
Leisure
Football fixtures experienced regular disruptions in the winter of 2000/2001.
Roads
Cold weather in 2005 required the use of over 220 tonnes of salt and 10 gritting lorries in one night. This proved to be a success and major disruptions were avoided. According to the Winter Service Policy Statement 2008 , there are 16 pre- salting routes which have been divided into two categories: Priority 1 and Priority 2, with Priority 1 being treated first. The routes have been designed so that there is the most efficient use of materials and labour.
Waste
Periods of snow and ice have resulted in waste services occasionally being suspended. Refuse crews reported that some side roads were unsafe for collections due to the ice. In 2007 waste collection was cancelled for 2 days affecting 20,000 homes.
Customer services
Different approaches of different services to releasing staff sometimes leave frontline staff without needed back up. On 8 and 9 February 2007, the First Stop Shop and Contact Centre stayed open until 5.10pm. This service could be compromised and frustrated if customer enquiries require back office support which cannot then be provided.
27 5 Conclusion
The process of carrying out a Local Climate Impacts Profile for Walsall has demonstrated that there is a basic awareness of the issues surrounding climate change amongst council officers. However there was less of an understanding of how this has, and more importantly can, affect the services the local authority provides. In the most part extreme weather appears to be viewed as something to be dealt with after the event, rather than something to be prepared and planned for in advance. While the direct impacts of extreme weather are generally apparent, it is the indirect and knock-on affects that must be planned for and adapted to. A major element of this will be establishing a standardized system of recording impacts of weather events across the local authority so that true costs can be calculated. Currently this data is absorb into existing systems that make it hard to extract when need.
Added to this is the high turnover of staff within the council. It is the nature of local authorities that officers move regularly between positions. However this makes the process of accessing information difficult as the officers interviewed were often not in position at the time the weather event in question took place. When this is combined with a lack of specifically recorded data it means that adding costs to weather impacts becomes particularly hard.
The database of weather events compiled during the media trawl identified a large number and variety of weather impacts. The service most directly impacted by the weather was Leisure, and particularly outdoor events. The nature of the service provided by this directorate makes it especially vulnerable to weather events. However the increasing unpredictability of weather across the region in the last decade has made their job even harder and severely impacted upon the service they provide. This has resulted not only in the cancellation of numerous events at short notice, but also the cancellation of future events at particular times of year due to the risk involved (this is an example of adaptation in practice). This has not only impacted upon the service of providing public leisure activities but also upon financial income to the council (see section 4.1 and 4.2). Due to these occurrences this directorate seemed most aware of the potential impacts our climate can have. This knowledge also aided them in being able to identify impacts and assign financial costs.
The main financial costs we have been able to identify as directly resulting from weather events have been related to instances of flooding. This is one of the most visual, and service impacting, extreme weather events. As well as damage to the Arboretum the flooding of 2007 had a major impact on the transport networks of the borough, and these are still being felt today with road maintenance months behind schedule. With projected rises in severe rainfall this could become a regular occurrence in Walsall in coming years. If this is combined with cuts in budget and staffing within Maintenance then these issues will only escalate.
Another extreme weather event impacting on services are heatwaves. Extremely high temperatures caused a peak in nuisance fires in July 2006, leading to the Fire Services adapting its fleet, to provide smaller vehicles more suited to deal with such fires. Anti-social behaviour during heatwaves presents a further problem, which the
28 Fire Services continue to combat with long term awareness raising and prevention campaigns. Since the weather is becoming so unpredictable, it is difficult plan in advance – action is really re -action. Hence, prevention and awareness raising campaigns are more important than ever. Heatwaves have also had impacts on health – hot summers have seen huge increases in hospital admissions and an increase in costs for the council, as they have to hire expensive cooling equipment for the vulnerable elderly in care homes. Council services will have to consider this in future when planning and building new care and residential homes, so as to include appropriate cooling as well as heating.
It will be crucial for Walsall Council to stay abreast with projections of how their local climate may be changing (such as UKCIP’s UK Climate Projections). New models are being run all the time and are a vital tool in identifying the best adaptation strategies. Technology and knowledge in this area is expanding rapidly and while there are no definitive answers, a basic understanding of these advances is essential. It is also imperative that the local authority does not simply look at the negative impacts of climatic change. The council must also look for opportunities that come out of these changes. The most obvious of these will be within leisure and tourism, although unpredictable weather will be a factor. But the most important area for potential opportunity could be economic growth connected to ‘green jobs’. This is predicted to be a major area of growth over the next few years and now is the time for local authorities to positions themselves to take advantage of this.
In order to fully understand the impacts of extreme weather and prepare for them it is vital to have buy-in at all levels of the council. Consideration of environmental and climate issues must become part of everyday decision making rather and an integral part to policy development, and also within the businesses that the council deals with. This is likewise key to the local authority’s role in setting an example to individuals and businesses with their constituency.
The Local Climate Impacts Profile is an important tool in creating this understanding, but it is just a start. The process of carrying out the LCLIP gives an overall picture of the local authority, but for a more in-depth understanding the assessment must be carried out by an officer within each directorate. In order to do this each directorate should individually assess possible climate impacts on service operations and services, and put into place measure to deal with these.
One area of consideration would be the size of Walsall itself. Due to the relatively small area that Walsall covers it is hard to estimate the true extent of weather impacts on both a local and regional basis. It is felt that the process of carrying out a Black Country wide LCLIP would be hugely beneficial in establishing thresholds that affect the region as a whole. Many weather impacts will be shared by each of the Black Country Boroughs, but by carrying out a joint LCLIP it will highlight how weather events in one borough may have knock-on affects in another. This process would also encourage the development of cross boundary initiatives and lead to a more effective regional approach.
29 Appendix 1
National Indicators linked to extreme weather
There are numerous National Indicators that link to issues of the environment:
NI National Indicator Title No. 8 Adult participation in sport 15 Serious violent crime rate 16 Serious acquisitive crime rate 17 Perceptions of anti-social behaviour 20 Assault with injury crime rate 21 Dealing with local concerns about anti-social behaviour 22 Perceptions of parents taking responsibility for the behaviour of their children 23 Perceptions that people in the area treat one another with respect and consideration 24 Satisfaction with the way police and local government dealt with anti- social behaviour 25 Satisfaction of different groups with the way police & local government dealt with anti-social behaviour 27 Understanding of local concerns about anti-social behaviour and crime by the local council and police 32 Repeat incidents of domestic violence 33 Arson incidents 34 Domestic Violence 39 Alcohol harm 41 Perceptions of drunk and rowdy behaviour as a problem 47 People killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents 48 Children killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents 49 Number of primary fires and related fatalities and non-fatal casualties 178 Bus services running on time 187 Tackling fuel poverty 189 Flood and coastal erosion risk management 197 Improved local biodiversity
30 Appendix 2
Meterological Stations
Locations where meterological data has been found with distance from Walsall:
• Penkridge, Staffordshire 11.1 miles (17.7km) • Shawbury, Shropshire 31.2 miles (50.7km) • Coleshill, Birmingham 13.6 miles (21.1km)
Glossary
† IPCC terminology to express likelihoods: very likely = >90% probability, likely = >66% probability.
‡ Standard deviation
A statistical measure of the spread of values in a dataset about their mean, if there are N values in a dataset, and the average of all the values is x, the standard deviation is defined by:
Footnote references
1. Jenkins, G.J., Perry, M.C., and Prior, M.J.0 (2007). The climate of the United Kingdom and recent trends, Met Office Hadley Centre, Exeter, UK.
2. Walsall Environment Forum and Partners (2006). State of the Environment Report for Walsall: Final Report – August 2006. Environment Forum. Walsall Council, Wallsall, P63
3. Wallsall Council Gauge Chart for Environmental Indices, Extended LEQSE 2006/07,
4. Review of autumn 2007 from Nick Collinson, head of conservation policy at the Woodland Trust.
5. Entec Report
6. The Potential Impacts of Climate Change In The West Midlands (2004), Sustainability West Midlands
7. Marsh, T., Cole, G. and Wilby, R.L., 2007: Major droughts in England and Wales, 1800- 2006. Weather, 62, 87-93.
8. Disease may hit half of UK horse chestnut trees, David Adam and Ben Willis, The Guardian, Wednesday 2 April 2008
9. Bradley, A.., Thornes, J.E. & Chapman L. (2001), “A Method To Asess variations of urban Canyon Geometry from Sky view Factor Transects”, Atmospheric Science Letters , 1, 1-11
31 Appendix 3 Media Trawl Database
Date of Weather Event Location Headline Notes and Comments Affected story condition Organisation
(Date of event)
17/04/1998 Weather Snowfall Walsall Caught out Lodgers called in the fire service to one property- snow Fire service severe by snow fall on the roof started to cause flood – fireman spend several hours shouring up the roof where tiles dislodged.
Council surprised by the weather and none of the roads were gritted in advance, gritting lorries had to be fitted with snow ploughs.
Refuse collections had been postponed in 20 000 houses.
Tree brought down by the snowfall.
The authority’s stand by for gritting roads ends on the last day of March!
01/05/1998 Storms Lightening Rushall – Lightening House wrecked – hole in the roof, chimney blown apart, strike Balmoral Close strike tears (Monday) hole in roof Light switch fitting and wires were wripped from the walls, ceiling cracked.
Fishley Park Electricity sub-station strucked golf complex
Bloxwich, Caused fire that cut off the supplies to houses Goscote, Pelsall, Great Wyreley
32 Date of Weather Event Location Headline Notes and Comments Affected story condition Organisation
(Date of event)
06/11/1998 Heavy rain Floods - Walsall Firework Walsall bonfire extravaganza cancelled on 4 November Walsall waterlogged Flood flop for health and safety reasons - Arboretum Extension Tourism and (4 under 6 inches of water. Marketing November) Manager About 8000 expected to attend disappointed. (Alison Maxam) Loss in income of £18 000.
20/11/1998 Walsall Counting a Again about extravaganza – report showed that nearly Leisure and cost of bad £10 000 was washed away, Community weather Services £3.300 spent on publicity, printing and security. (Mike Somers)
No insurance against bad weather – caused deficit of £ 9.900 in Council’s budget.
Another event cancelled as well (Illumination) lake rose over paths and sparked fears concerning electric wiring.
25 % reduction in attendance in this year’s Illuminations caused by bad weather – 4 wet weekends – estimated loss £72 000.
Officers were looking on the cost of taking the wet weather insurance for Illuminations.
15/01/1999 Rain Ground Walsall Walsall RFC’s Broadway ground waterlogged – match waterlogged ground is postponed (with February 20 th ) waterlogged Jewson National Division Two with Hinckley
12/03/1999 Storms Walsall Wood’s 5 matches cancelled/called off stormy weather
33 Date of Weather Event Location Headline Notes and Comments Affected story condition Organisation
(Date of event)
20/03/1999 Winter cold Walsall Bid to halt Friends of Earth: 400 people in the UK will die from the winter cold in next 5 years. Cause: fuel poverty. Thousands of deaths cold related illnesses – respiratory problems, heart and cerebo-vascular complaints etc. – cost for NHS: £31 billion a year.
Predictions: Aldridge and Brownhills – 138 people will die form cold and weather related deaths, Walsall North – 149, Walsall South - 142
Friends of Earth: UK has more additional deaths in winter than much colder countries as Norway or Sweden.
02/04/1999 Walsall A record Walsall NHS had the record number of emergency winter for admissions in its history during the winter. hospital admissions Over December and January – 17 % higher than the average over last 5 years.
High peaks were reached between 26.12-01.01 and 05.01 – 08.01
11/06/1999 Torrential rain Walsall, The show Outdoor spectacular – Walsall Summer Show wasn’t Aldridge Airport goes on called off even though the weather was bad. – Bosty Lane despite bad weather
12/11/1999 Torrential rain Drenched Walsall - Walsall firework extravaganza cancelled once more ground arboretum (last Friday)
28/01/2000 Winter cold Deaths and Walsall MP supports The Labour Private Members Bill will require the illnesses new winter Government to draw up and implement a programme of
34 Date of Weather Event Location Headline Notes and Comments Affected story condition Organisation
(Date of event)
caused by warmer bid home insulation and other energy efficiency measures winter cold for homes experiencing fuel poverty.
03/11/2000 Storms flooding Walsall Storm Walsall’s premier park (Arboretum) was closed for a day Arboretum wreaks after weekend’s chaotic storms caused severe flooding Park Manager (Monday) havoc at the – the lake flooded and the brook was left overflowing./ top park Arboretum Park Manager : the worst storms since a couple of years; maintenance people were clearing the damage.
Gale-force Pelsall – Gilpen Tree uprooted and crushed into 3 gardens /Fire station - Fire service winds Crescent they spent early part of the week clearing the debris.
The storms have also put a strain on blood supplies – many donors unable to get to sessions because of the flooding – travelling problems as well as sickness (cold coughs because of the bad weather)
The weekend’s weather prediction more rain over the weekend
10/11/2000 Heavy rain Flooding Slaters Place Collapsed Flooding caused by broken drain even though resident drain leaves has claimed it before. street awash Water level reached the pavement.
It caused flooding every time when there was a heavy rain and wasn’t fixed for several years.
10/11/2000 Heavy rain Flooding Westbrook Verging on Walsall plunged into chaos by heavy rain which flooded Fire service Avenue, submerging parts of borough on Sunday night. (Sunday Aldridge night - 24 Fire-fighters were helping people after their cars and hours) homes submerged under huge pools of water.
35 Date of Weather Event Location Headline Notes and Comments Affected story condition Organisation
(Date of event)
Water level reaching up to five feet
Flooding affected 4 houses
10/11/2000 Storms Walsall Storms take Illumination - attendance exacted significantly down this Tourism and toll on year (200 000 people in all; 61 000 less than in 1999)/ Marketing Illuminations Manager Tourism and Marketing Manager: tough year – 21 wet nights of total 45.
Storms made the September and November the wettest months in years.
10/11/2000 Heavy rain flooding Lichfield road in Trapped: Man was rescued by the fireman after his car became Fire service Walsall bridge over trapped in flood water under a Navvy’s Bridge, Driver (Wednesday) troublesome was taken to the hospital by ambulance suffering from water the effects of cold. Bridge was flooded for several days.
10/12/2000 Gale-force Sandwell street Strong winds Fire-fighters secured a crumbling chimney. Bricks falling Fire service winds take troll on from the car severely damaged car. chimney
26/01/2001 Frost and Walsall Weather Walsall’s National Division Three visit to league leaders snow woe Doncaster last Saturday was postponed – forth such cancellation for Walsall in past 8 weeks.
9/02/2001 Heavy rain flooding Walsall Cemetery’s Cemetery flooded with water, muddy conditions. Walsall cemetery mudflats: an Council’s accident Walsall Council’s cemetery and crematorium officer: cemetery and waiting to Board will be put down and when weather better grass crematorium happen will be replanted. officer
12/07/2002 Heavy rain Flash flooding Hollyfields Weather GBU game against Birmingham Co-op had been called
36 Date of Weather Event Location Headline Notes and Comments Affected story condition Organisation
(Date of event)
(Friday) damages off due to wet pitch (rugby) on Friday. promotion hopes
27/08/2002 Walsall, All shook up (Monday morning) 20 second originating from Dudley Bloxwich, by an earth 4,8 on the Richter scale. Caused panic. Blakenall Heath tremor Two churches reported damage - all service (including funeral) cancelled.
Several chimneys collapsed, Bentley Drive Primary Scholl cracked.
Car damaged by falling chimney.
West Midlands Police were inundated with 5000 calls from panicking families. Additional 600 were made to the 999 service.
18/10/2002 Heavy rain Flash flooding Walsall Illumination Illuminations were closed on Tuesday night due to Tourism and (Tuesday) and strong Arboretum are rained driving rain and gusts lashing the town. About 100 marketing wind off visitors affected – either refund or another visit. manager: Alison Maxam
1/11/2002 Gales and Gales wreak Several cars flattened roofs without tiles, and some strong winds havoc residents without power. (70 mph) Several trees collapsed causing damage (subject to the Tree Preservation Order).
06/12/2002 Bloxwich Match called off games fall to weather
37 Date of Weather Event Location Headline Notes and Comments Affected story condition Organisation
(Date of event)
10/01/2003 Snow and Walsall Gritter teams Team on standby and halved their response time. 20 Cabinet ice/ cold on standby minutes to get the gritter on the roads on the normal member for conditions to deal with working day and 1 hour during “out of hours”. highways icy roads
04/07/2003 3 suns Brownhills Shine on – “mock sun” appearing on the sky due to rare That’s sun atmospheric refraction phenomenon
01/08/2003 Heat wave Plea for Burglary line opened. Warning: windows should not be vigilance left opened in rooms that are unoccupied for any length after of time. burglary rise
08/08/2003 Heat wave North Walsall Blackout Bin crews leapt to the rescue of residents left with brings on freezers full of rotting food following a major power (last health fears blackout. (Power failure due to fire at Burtwood Primary Thursday) substation in Plant Lane.)
“This could have presented a significant health hazard if left out in the current heat wave”.
08/08/2003 Heat wave - Brownhills Dangers of a People are being warned against swimming in the Country-side Temperatures quick dip borough pools as the summer sun continues to sizzle officer reaching 90’s the nation – potential dangerous water, not suitable for swimming.
Warnings to public to not use disposable barbeques, or leave discarded cigarettes - temporary sights to remind of possibility of fire at Walsall Council.
Warnings against burglars as well – open windows etc.
38 Date of Weather Event Location Headline Notes and Comments Affected story condition Organisation
(Date of event)
15/08/2003 lightening Tintern Homes One house was set on fire and another had a hole Crescent struck by blown in the roof after lightening strike. (Bloxwich) lightening House hit by powerful bolt which affected the electricity supply and knocked tiles from the roof (Sunday).
Aerial socket left smouldering which developed into a fire.
26/09/2003 Heat wave Grass Fires Aldridge Blazes may 20 fire engines and more than 100 fire-fighters 400 Fire service Darlaston have been tyres thick smoke to be seen for miles. arson 300 scrap cars involved, caused by children playing with matches or careless cigarettes disposal,
Fire service press office: We would urge people to be extra careful during areas of dry weather when the grass becomes tinder dry.
24/10/2003 Gearing up Operation Snowfall – highway maintenance are for icy roads checking road gritting equipment– major training to make sure they are ready for winter conditions.
06/08/2004 Heavy storms Bloxwich Doubts cast Doubts has been raised that a teenage boy died from - lightening on lightning the effects of being struck by lightening. (August 3) death of 13.08.2004 – “Funeral of storm lad” –confirmation that he died during a thunder storm. youngster, 14
13/08/2004 Heavy rain Aldridge Car crashed Women critically ill in Wolverhampton New Cross in storm Hospital after losing control during heavy rain (Monday)
39 Date of Weather Event Location Headline Notes and Comments Affected story condition Organisation
(Date of event)
24/09/2004 Work to halt Almost 500 000 pounds is to be pumped into improving floods sewer systems in Aldridge and Willenhall to reduce the risk of flooding. Severn Trent Water’s manager (Larry Barnes: Heavy storms are becoming more frequent which can mean an increase in flooding 25/02/2005 Freezing cold Walsall Prepared for Arctic weather, the big (Friday - freeze 10 gritting lorries in one night, more than 220 tonnes of Monday, 4 salt was spread on roads, housing estates and days) vulnerable location (near schools, sheltered accommodation and hospitals).
Success - chaos free.
05/08/2005 Torrential rain flooding Pheasey and Staff praised Walsall Council highways stuff received 20 calls about Councillor- Streetly over flood flooding in 45 minutes, environment (last week) particulary hotline chief: Maroc action Staff was drafted in to blocked gulleys an replaced Longhi manhole covers which had been blown off due to the force of the water.
19/08/2005 Hot weather Fridge Age Concern has issued warnings to older residents to Age Concern temperature ensure that their refrigerators are kept at the correct lert to OAPs temperature. in hot weather
21 oct/2005 Walsall - Cash bid to 350 000 pounds scheme to end the flooding of foul Severn Trent Aldridge end flooding water into 6 gardens has begun. Water
40 Date of Weather Event Location Headline Notes and Comments Affected story condition Organisation
(Date of event)
misery To store storm water, gardens flooded by sewage water when drainage system can not cope with particularly heavy rain.
Work begun on Monday and should be finished by February 2, 2006.
Operational field services manager (Bill Lilly): Wetter winter and drier summers will become characteristic weather patterns in the first half of the 21 st century. Rain fall patterns are also changing, with short intense storms becoming more frequent. Much of our existing sewer network was designed to cope with the demands of the 19 th Century flows, of the demands being made of them in the 21 st Century.
4/11/ 2005 Floodlit pitch Willlenhall School Sports College specially designed opens pitch to provide high quality all weather surface hockey and football.
18/11/2005 Plans drawn Walsall council has approved 198 000 pounds scheme up to treat to treat more than half of all roads in the borough in winter roads winter weather.
Operation snowfall - every October. In snow and ice – emergency procedure: 27 vehicles on standby
16/06/2006 Lightening Walsall- Lightening A television set was damaged when lightening struck an Willenhall strikes aerial on the roof of the house. No one was injured. (Monday)
21/07/2006 Heat wave Temperatures Walsall’s “The heat wave currently searing the town looks set to Department of reaching a hotter than continue until the weekend.” Health, scorching 35 C
41 Date of Weather Event Location Headline Notes and Comments Affected story condition Organisation
(Date of event)
(95F). Lanzarote Warning to vulnerable people – elderly, kids and those Forestry with chronic diseases – temperature can have Commission significant effect on health if reached at least two consecutive days.
The Heat – Health Watch system operated with association with the Department of Health has been put o Level 2 alert.
Met Office: we are expecting 33 C on Wednesday which will be record for July.
The Met Office Solar Index hit seven over first 3 days of the week – risk of damage to skin is very high.
Forest Rangers protecting Cannock Chase are taking Fire Rating assessment every day – no need to restrict any part of it yet.
Arriva spokesperson: Bus drivers are given water when they call back to the bus station to protect them against dehydration.
28/07/2006 Heat wave Summer Arboretum – 25% increase in visits over past week. heat taking (July 19 – its toll on Borough council workers were called to Park Hall (last the hottest townfolk week) – area of Newquay Road was melting under the July day on intense heat. record) The tarmac began to dissolve – The surface of the road was dressed to prevent further disruption.
Manor Hospital – children being taken ill due to the heat, several cases of patients suffering from sun-
42 Date of Weather Event Location Headline Notes and Comments Affected story condition Organisation
(Date of event)
stroke.
RSPCA – pet owners warned not to leave their pets in the cars and apply cream with highest factor on them – particularly ear tips and any other white parts.
18/08/2006 Heat wave Walsall Heat wave Exotic insect (hummingbird hawk moth) seen in the draws area. The heat wave has seen an explosion in migrants’ migrant population. moths Staffordshire Wildlife Trust: each year we get a number from Spain but this year exceptional. They have bred here in the past but the colder weather kills off the young.
Increased range of another moth – The death head hawk moth.
Explosion of hover flies and clouded yellow butterflies.
19/01/2007 Gales (70 Walsall Parks closed 7 parks closed due to public safety: Arboretum, Pleck, Cabinet mph) and due to King George V and Bloxwich Parks, George Rose Park member for (12/01) heavy rain dangerous (Darlaston) and Palfrey and Willenhall Parks. Re- leisure and winds opened after safety checks. culture (Louise Mobile patrols monitored Leamore, Bloxwich and Harison) Holland Parks and the Airport in Aldridge.
First time in four years the parks had to be closed because of bad weather.
(11/01) 3 trees toppled in the Arboretum and Willenhall park.
26/01/2007 Gale-force Walsall Storms Many people suffered damage to properties and Sergeant prompt gardens during the gale- force winds which hit the David Cotton
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(Date of event)
(18/01) winds burglar Midlands on January 18. (force warning community Walsall residents are being warned to be on their guard safety bureau) against distraction burglars. Police
16/02/2007 Heavy snow Walsall Bin Waste collection cancelled from 20 000 Walsall houses Walsall collections for 2 days. Council (last week) cancelled service due to heavy “At a time when side roads in particular can be manager ( snow potentially dangerous we feel that sending a fleet of Dave Roberts) lorries out would not be helping the situation”
09/03/2007 Wood game Wood’s game with high-flying Coleshill Town fell victim falls victim to to the weather, with Oak Park resembling a swamp. the weather
01/06/2007 Heavy rain Bloxwich Fun day is Fun day postponed in King George V park. Heavy rain Park washed out over the past four days has turned the field into a bog. development (Wenesday) by heavy Officer: rain Malcolm Morris
15/06/2007 Sweltering Emergency planners are advising residents to prepare Emergency summer: be for a sweltering summer. – Web guidance has been Planning prepared produced. Manager: Alan “Walsall Council and our partner organisations providing Boyd health and social care services are again taking steps to help protect vulnerable people during potentially high temperatures” Met Office warns that temperatures could soar over the summer months, indications suggest warmer than average summer
44 Date of Weather Event Location Headline Notes and Comments Affected story condition Organisation
(Date of event)
22/06/2007 Monsoon Flooding Coppice Road, Traffic chaos Main roads under water, schools closed, train services style rain Walsall Wood; after rain were disrupted, and fire- fighters struggled to cope with (last Friday) to Lichfield lashes down hundreds of calls. Lane, Rushall; Tame Bridge; Motorist drove into a canal in Coppice Road, Walsall Aldridge Wood when he could not distinguish the road from the cut. (Fire crews found the driver had managed to scramble out of the vehicle.)
Fire crews sent to Lichfield Lane, Rushall when two lorries and a van become trapped in water four feet deep.
The specialist water rescue unit was called to save 5 occupants of the vehicles who were unable to get out.
Flooding at Tame Bridge Parkway (railway tracks under two feet of water.) - Walsall trains suspended.
Disruption to train services between Birmingham and Wolverhampton.
Central Trains called off all services between Walsall and Birmingham. Science lab, boiler room and pathways were flooded Aldridge School in Tynings Lane, however all exams were taking place as normal.
22/06/2007 Deluge Flooding Arboretum Fishing Annual fishing contest postponed for July 1 event postponed
45 Date of Weather Event Location Headline Notes and Comments Affected story condition Organisation
(Date of event)
22/06/2007 Heavy rain Flooding Arboretum Park Walsall Arboretum was reopened on Monday after reopens council park staff mounted a major clean-up operation. (Friday – after flooding Park closed on Friday – water level reached over 4ft Monday) deep in places. – Worst flooding in more than ten years. Many pathways unsafe due to the amount of mud and debris on them. 29/06/2007 Heavy rain Green Lane More chaos Road reopened after failure of resurfacing work. But (Shelfield) for road rain has since eroded large areas of the underlying users surface and road closed once more due to public safety.
Road is expected to be again in use within two weeks, work will re-start once weather is favourable.
Contractors Kiely Bros Ltd. Have agreed to repair the road surface at no extra cost.
Source: Walsall Observer
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