Scrutiny at Eden Review of Eden District Council's Sandbag Policy

Home , Eamont Bridge, Patterdale, Yanwath

Scrutiny at Eden

Review of Eden District Council’s Sandbag Policy

May 2016

www.eden.gov.uk Contents

Review of Eden District Council’s Sandbag Policy ...... 1

Chairman’s Foreword ...... 3

1. Introduction ...... 4

2. Scope...... 4

3. Methodology ...... 5

4. Background...... 5

5. Sandbags...... 6

6. Policies of Cumbrian Authorities ...... 7

7. Alternatives to Sandbags ...... 7

8. Consultations ...... 8

9. Cost Comparison ...... 10

10. Public Response ...... 10

11. Community Resilience ...... 10

12. Concerns of the Review Group ...... 11

13. Conclusions...... 12

14. Recommendations ...... 12

Appendix A: Existing Sandbag Policy ...... 13

Appendix B: Policies of Other Authorities ...... 15

Appendix C: Revised Sandbag Policy...... 19

2 Chairman’s Foreword

No one who experienced the floods of December 2015 is likely ever to forget them. They became a national media event that impacted on the lives of thousands of residents across Eden, in both their domestic and business situations. The trauma is still widely felt. Officers and Members of Eden District Council were instantly involved by virtue of their public position as well as, in some cases, personal circumstances, and it is right and proper that we should review the effectiveness of our actions. This particular Scrutiny Review focuses on one high-profile aspect of EDC activity, the deployment of sandbags.

I would like to thank the District Councillors who volunteered their services for the review and asked me to act as chairman. I also thank the officers and local representatives who gave evidence in person or submitted statements. Most especially I thank two officers, Lauren Rushen and Charlotte Alderson, who organised our meetings, kept us focused, took detailed minutes and wrote up the drafts of which this report represents the final, agreed version. It is intended to offer guidance and clarity in dealing with future situations that we hope and pray will not recur, but for which we must be prepared.

Andy Connell

Eden District Councillor for Appleby, Bongate Ward

3 1. Introduction

1.1. In December 2015, Cumbria was hit by exceptionally high levels of rainfall which led to unprecedented flooding across the district. Residents were forced to flee their homes and thousands were left without power. The effects are still being felt today. Hundreds of Eden residents are not yet able to return to habitable homes and some flood-damaged businesses remains wholly or partially closed.

1.2. Within Eden almost 500 homes were flooded with exceptionally high levels of water. Thousands of residents became isolated as roads in and out of villages and towns became impassable.

1.3. Within Eden the worst days for flooding fell on Saturday 5th December and Sunday 6th December. Many parts of the district experienced further flooding before the end of the year.

1.4. The floods not only devastated premises but also destroyed historic constructions such as Eamont Bridge and Pooley Bridge, isolating towns and villages, and restricted the ability of residents to escape the floods and for outside assistance to bring relief and supplies.

1.5. Instances of flooding have increased in recent years. It is important that Eden District Council reviews its flood related policies and how they can be developed for the benefit of residents.

1.6. The demand for sandbags increased considerably during the December 2015 floods. The purpose of this review is to assess whether our sandbag policy worked effectively or whether revisions need to be made to the policy. 2. Scope

2.1. Purpose of the Review: In light of recent flooding a Task and Finish Group was established to review how our current Sandbag Policy worked during the floods and whether any changes to the policy should be made.

2.2. Aims:

1. To gain evidence from Council officers and contractors on the effectiveness and costs of the current policy in light of recent flooding instances

2. To gain evidence from the local communities, including residents, flood groups, businesses and parish/town councils on their experiences of gaining sandbags from the Council, the use of sandbags in flooding and their opinions on the current policy

3. To compare and contrast the Council’s sandbag policies with those of neighbouring local authorities and local authorities also affected by flooding in recent years

4. To understand the advantages and disadvantages of using sandbags in a flooding situation and to gain an understanding of alternatives, and their advantages and disadvantages; to gain greater awareness of any funding schemes that are currently available

4 5. To gather best practice examples on the use of sandbags or other alternatives

2.3. The Task and Finish Group were clear that wider flooding issues, e.g. upland and river management or post-flood compensation, were beyond the scope of this review and that the Members’ focus should purely be on assessing the way in which the Council’s sandbag policy worked during the flooding and whether changes to the policy needed to be made. 3. Methodology

3.1. Members agreed to hold two witness sessions in order to understand how the policy worked in practice as well as to established areas for improvement within our current policy.

3.2. The first witness session was for officers and contractors of Eden District Council. The officers who attended were Jane Langston (Technical Services Manager), Paul Emmerson (Contracts Officer and On Call Duty Officer) and Joe Dent (AMEY, Emergency Contractor).

3.3. The second witness session was for Parish Councils and Floods Groups. Representatives were sent by Barton Parish Council and Yanworth and Eamont Bridge Parish Council. Members also received written representations from Patterdale Parish Council, Great Asby Parish Council, Bolton Parish Council and Eamont Bridge Flood Group. Additionally Members were able to pass on information and views gathered from residents of the wards they represented. 3.4. In order to gain a broad knowledge of the work being undertaken members of the Task and Finish group also made contact with Cumbria County Council (the lead flood authority for Cumbria), the Environment Agency and ACTion for Communities in Cumbria (ACT).

4. Background

4.1. To begin the review all non-executive members were approached to be part of the scrutiny review. The members that responded to the invitation were allocated to the Task and Finish Group.

4.2. The Task and Finish Group was established in February 2016. The members of the Task and Finish Group were Councillor A Connell (Chairman), Councillor D Banks, Councillor S Orchard, Councillor M Temple and Councillor M Tonkin.

4.3. Councillor J Raine was also a member of the initial Task and Finish Group but due to work commitments had to withdraw from the group.

4.4. The Task and Finish Group first met in February 2016 followed by meetings in March, April and May. 4.5. To inform members of the information currently available a briefing pack was compiled by officers. This pack included our current sandbag policy, the sandbag policies of neighbouring districts and other flood impacted councils, further information on sandbags (such as guidance from the Environment Agency), information on alternatives to sandbags, Eden District Council’s funding for flood

5 resilience and sections of the ‘Floods Review’ chaired by Sir Michael Pitt in 2008. This document was intended to give members a broad overview of sandbags and the policies that dictate their use.

4.6. Eden District Council is under no statutory obligation to provide sandbags to its residents. However the policy during in December 2015 was to provide sandbags in known flood risk areas and to vulnerable people. The policy used during December 2015 has been attached as Appendix A to this report. 5. Sandbags

5.1. The usefulness of sandbags remains a highly contested topic with councils across the country taking different standpoints. The Pitt Review: Learning Lessons From The 2007 Floods conducted by Sir Michael Pitt in 2008 after the Somerset Levels flooding concluded that their value is limited. “Strategic Sandbagging can be successfully used alongside roads or adjacent to important buildings to prevent them from flooding, but the work needs to be done properly by experts. The Review was unable to obtain any significant evidence that sandbags were particularly effective during the 2007 summer floods in providing protection to individual households…. Nevertheless, sandbags are still widely regarded as an important focus for community action and they should not simply be withdrawn. The general provision of sandbags should be phased out in favour of better products such as kite-marked flood boards, air brick covers and other forms of temporary defence.’

5.2. Members acknowledged that sandbags could be seen to have the following advantages:  Can be useful with small amounts of water for a short period of time as well as offering minimal filtration  Are easily accessible for residents as sandbags can be bought from retail stores or builders merchants.  Offer community resilience and allows communities to be self- sufficient if local stores are allocated.  Are a traditional method of water damage prevention to which people turn to in a crisis.  Sand in large dumper bags and plastic coverings can if used correctly be used to deter water away from whole areas rather than each individual residence (a tactic used by Eamont Bridge Flood Group)

5.3. However Members also acknowledged that there are several disadvantages to the use of sandbags:  Ineffective when used against high levels of water or properties that have already been flooded  Do not create a seal to stop water passing through and need expert advice to place most effectively.  Labour intensive and time consuming to fill. Members highlighted the ageing population of Eden and the struggle to find residents who can physically meet the demands of filling and distributing sandbags in some communities.

6  Disposal of sandbags remains in the hands of residents and not the local authority leading the sandbags to be abandoned after flooding events.  Difficulties in distributing sandbags during times of flooding as roads become impassable or unsafe to drive on.

5.4. Members wished to highlight that in any event sandbags should not be the only flood resilience method that residents use and that residents need to invest in other methods of flood resilience. 6. Policies of Cumbrian Authorities

6.1. Eden, South Lakeland and Copeland District Councils will offer sandbags during times of flooding. However each policy states their limited use and encourages residents to seek out other methods. Allerdale District Council does not offer sandbags but does offer flood sacks as an alternative.

6.2. Barrow and Carlisle District Councils, Cumbria County Council and the Environment Agency do not offer sandbags.

6.3. The policies of Cumbrian Authorities and other authorities can be found in Appendix B. 7. Alternatives to Sandbags

7.1. There are an increasing number of products that are available as an alternative to sandbags or for use in combination with sandbags.

7.2. ‘Flood Sacks’ or ‘Hydro Sacks’ swell when placed in water and can act as a barrier, much like a sandbag, to divert water. When dry Flood Sacks are light and fairly flat, making them relatively easy to store and handle.

7.3. During the consultation, Eamont Bridge’s Parish Council and Flood Group Representative, Mr Chris Battersby stated that flood sacks had been trialled by a member of the flood group. They were found to be no more effective than sandbags at holding back water and had the additional drawback of floating away in higher levels of water. Sandbags, or other heavy objects, needed to be used to keep them in place. It was also reported that after the December floods the banks of the River Eamont were littered with flood sacks in the immediate aftermath, suggesting that difficulties with using them were widespread. This opinion was corroborated by the Amey representative based on their trialling of flood sacks.

7.4. Sandbags have traditionally been made of hessian but a recent alternative is to use plastic. Hessian bags are bio-degradable but tend to rot if stored for long periods of time. Plastic bags can be stored for longer but are not bio-degradable. There is no consensus as to which form of storage is preferable.

7.5. Members recognised that the water levels in December 2015 were unprecedented and sandbags, or their alternatives, would have had a limited effect.

7 7.6. A charity called the National Flood Forum has created a page called the ‘Blue Pages’ which lists products that are available for flood resilience. 8. Consultations

Officer Witness Session

8.1. Members invited officers to attend a witness session to discuss the ways in which Eden District Council’s Sandbag policy worked during the December 2015 floods.

8.2. During the Officer Session Members established how the current policy worked in practice. It was explained to members that the current policy is to provide sandbags to known flood groups, such as Eamont Bridge and Appleby, and to vulnerable people.

8.3. Members heard the experiences of the on call duty officer from 5th December, the day with the highest levels of calls from residents. The officer stated that calls began at around 7am and continued, increasing in volume, throughout the day. The officer stated that he would be taking a call and upon conclusion of that phone call there would be multiple voicemail messages from other Eden residents.

8.4. Due to the extensive number of calls, officers could not establish the eligibility of callers under the ambiguous term ‘vulnerable’. The term ‘vulnerable’ under the policy is intended to refer to those that are unable to help themselves, due to mental or physical disabilities, and not those whose properties are vulnerable to flooding. The policy makes it clear that, if able to, the residents must take action to protect themselves and must not rely on Eden District Council.

8.5. However it became apparent during the officer witness session that this interpretation of the policy did not work in practice. During the December floods Eden District Council offered sandbags to all residents that requested them. This is due to the unprecedented nature of the floods and the difficulty, and inappropriateness, in asking personal questions to determine vulnerability in times of crisis. Members acknowledge that that this was an area that needed to be reviewed.

8.6. Eden District Council’s Emergency Contractor is Amey. During the December floods the Council had been notified by the Environment Agency that flooding in the district would happen. At this point Eden District Council contacted Amey to begin emergency assistance preparations and to ensure that Amey had enough sandbag supplies to distribute across the district. Once calls requesting sandbags had been received by Eden District Council the information was passed to Amey who then distributed sandbags. In designated flood zones dumper bags of sand and empty sandbags were delivered to the villages for the residents to fill and place where needed. It took roughly two hours for the call to come through to Eden District Council to the sandbags arriving where needed.

8 8.7. Members questioned whether the current policy covers the disposal of sandbags and officers responded that the disposal of sandbags is the responsibility of the individual and not the local authority. This is partly as a result of sandbag supplies coming from a variety of sources, not just the local authority. However the Local Authority has on previous occasions placed skips in formalised flood zones and would do so again. Public Witness Session

8.8. Members of the task and finish group also conducted a witness session with representatives from parish councils or flood groups that had been impacted by flooding. Each parish council that had been impacted by flooding was invited to attend a witness session at the Town Hall or to submit a written representation of their experience of how the policy worked in December 2015.

8.9. Written responses were received from Great Asby, Bolton and Patterdale Parish Councils and Eamont Bridge Flood Group.

8.10. Representatives from Barton, Yanwath and Eamont Bridge Parish Councils attended the session to present to members their experiences of the floods in December 2015.

8.11. Cyril Wilson, Barton Parish Council, presented to the members a summary of the Barton Community Led Plan which included the creation of a Barton Community Resilience Group who, although not currently in existence, would look to create an emergency plan for Barton. Mr Wilson stated that consultation with the residents and Parish Council of Barton indicated they were generally satisfied with the response from Eden District Council.

8.12. Mr Wilson stated that Barton Parish Council would like the distribution of sandbags to continue to be provided by Eden District Council. Mr Wilson also stated that as a part of their emergency local plan Barton would be looking to have its own sandbag store within the village so that the village can respond quicker if flooding were to happen again. Barton Parish Council are being supported by ACT to create their community resilience plan.

8.13. Mr Wilson stated that in Barton many residents had other flood resilience measures in place such as flood gates and automatic sealants, but even these had proved ineffective during the floods due to the level of water. Other homes such as tenanted or holiday homes had not been so well prepared.

8.14. Chris Battersby, Yanwarth and Bridge Parish Councillor and Chairman of the Eamont Bridge Flood Group, attended to represent Eamont Bridge. Mr Battersby stated that the flood group in Eamont Bridge was well established but continues to develop its community resilience plan when any flaws or areas for improvement are identified. After the December 2015 floods changes to the plan are being made in relation to pre-flood preparations and post flood recovery. The Flood group work with ACT and other emergency planning groups to develop the plan.

8.15. Eamont Bridge currently has its own sandbag store as well as large dumper bags within the village. Within Eamont Bridge, Flood Group members are allocated areas of the village to notify households of flood warnings and to work together to

9 place sandbags.

8.16. Eamont Bridge Flood Group are working proactively to establish the needs of people based on past experiences. When they look to replenish their supplies they ask the residents what are their needs. But people are not always forthcoming about what their requirements are. It can be expected therefore that during times of crisis there will be some panic, local resources will be stretched and there will be emergency requests to Eden District Council. 9. Cost Comparison

9.1. Flood Sacks cost roughly £7-£9 each; Sandbags cost roughly £1-£2 each. Members were not convinced that flood sacks offered identifiable benefits to justify the big difference in price. They felt that were the Council to continue to distribute bags for protection against flooding, the most cost effective option would be to continue with traditional sandbags.

9.2. A Council officer estimated that during the December floods the cost of providing sandbags was £9,933.71. During the December 2015 floods the policy was not restricted to Flood Groups or vulnerable people and this is reflected in the cost. It is not envisaged that if the policy were to be altered that there would be a significant increase in costs. 10. Public Response

10.1. The December 2015 floods were unprecedented, with a far greater impact than the floods of previous years. Eden District Council believes that the work of the Council during the flooding was well received by the public at large, a view confirmed by the witness sessions with the public. The review group has not identified any major failings or complaints over this period.

10.2. Members acknowledged that provision of sandbags offers reassurance, but recognised a danger that residents come to expect sandbags when there is a threat of flooding because this has happened in previous years. Members were clear that while the Council will make every effort to meet emergency needs, it is the responsibility of the resident of the property to take action to protect their home and not to rely on the local authority.

10.3. Eden District Council does not offer sandbags to businesses. Businesses should source their own sandbags and take preventative measures as part of their own resilience planning.

10.4. Eden District Council has not been made aware of any complaints relating to the conduct of the council during the flooding period. Members were informed of one complaint that had been received but upon investigation this complaint related to a Highways Authority matter and not a matter for Eden District Council. 11. Community Resilience

11.1. Members of the review group praised the work of the flood groups, such as Eamont Bridge, in their strive to make their community more resilient. Members were also pleased to hear that Barton parish are working towards their own emergency plan.

10 11.2. Members are of the opinion that empowering local areas to respond effectively to flooding will offer a stronger resilience to flooding. Parishes will be able to respond quicker to flood warnings if they carry their own sandbag supplies.

11.3. During the review members became aware of machines that aid in the filling and storage of sand. These are known as ‘Sandbag Hoppers.’ These machines use gravity or mechanisms to push sand that is released by a pedal into sandbags. This machine will fill sandbags in roughly 3 seconds. Members would encourage local communities to look into this type of machines it could significantly improve a community’s response time and enable members of the community to focus their attention elsewhere. Local communities would need to look into available funding options if they wished to purchase one of these machines.

11.4. Members are aware of several avenues for community groups to seek funding or support in establishing a community store. Namely these are: 11.4.1. ACT 11.4.2. Environment Agency 11.4.3. Eden District Council 11.4.4. Cumbria CVS 11.4.5. Cumbria Community Foundation

11.5. Around 500 properties were flooded in Eden. Each property has received a leaflet from the Environment Agency on ‘How to Prepare for Floods’ which includes information on government flood resilience grants.

11.6. Eden District Council offers a ‘Property level Flood Resilience Grant Scheme’ which is a grant of up to £5,000 available to residents who have been flooded to help finance flood resilience measures. Further information on this grant and resilience measures can be found on the Eden District Council website. Currently Eden District Council has received 120 applications since the December floods. Members would like to encourage residents who have been flooded to enquire about this grant and how it might benefit themselves. 12. Concerns of the Review Group

12.1. Members highlighted throughout the review the dangers of flood waters. They were aware of the health and safety implications for those distributing the sandbags. During the December floods many roads became impassable and dangerous. Whilst Eden District Council may endeavour to distribute sandbags it must not come at the cost of risking the lives of employees its sub-contractor. Residents must prepare themselves to such an extent that if sandbags cannot be delivered their own resilience measures will be effective enough. This can also be applied to local community resilience.

12.2. Under the previous policy the term ‘vulnerable’ was not intended to mean those vulnerable to flooding but rather people not physically or mentally able to protect themselves. In practice in response to the large number of calls and demand this limitation was not enforced. Members of the review acknowledged that if the policy were to change, it would be necessary to ensure that those unable to help themselves were still protected.

11 13. Conclusions

13.1. The review group needed to establish a balance between the cost of providing sandbags against the public perception that sandbags are vital and should be provided. In light of the December 2015 flooding Eden District Council recognised that changes to the policy needed to be made to ensure a more effective response could be given if flooding within the district were to happen again.

13.2. Members wish to praise the work that officers, the emergency services and local volunteers have done, during and after, the December 2015 and the flood recovery effort. The floods were unprecedented and devastating but unfortunately may not be the last time that Cumbria is struck with such devastation. It is hoped that individual residents will take further advantage of the funding schemes available and protect their homes as well as local communities joining together to create flood groups and emergency plans in order to help protect each other. 14. Recommendations

1. To agree a revised sandbag policy in light of the findings of the review group (Attached as Appendix C)

2. To begin communication with local communities to encourage the creation and development of community resilience plans and to work closely with ACTion with Communities in Cumbria to help communities prepare for flood related emergencies in advance.

3. To conduct a scrutiny review of our Out of Hours Services.

4. To continue with the use of ‘traditional’ sandbags and not consider replacing these with Flood Sacks or plastic filled sacks as the members of the review group are not convinced that they are more effective or offer better value for money.

5. To continue not to provide sandbags to local businesses. Businesses should make their own arrangements and create their own emergency resilience plans.

12 Appendix A: Existing Sandbag Policy

Sandbag Policy

For flood related advice and weather warnings see our flood recovery information.

In the event of River (or Watercourse) Flood Containment and Prevention

Our policy for sandbagging is to assist with the prevention of damage to property by flooding. This may be achieved by the filtering, containment or diversion of floodwaters from rivers or watercourses.

The sole responsibility for protection of private property in the event of a flood lies with individual owners and not the District Council or any other Agency.

What we may do:  Provide sand and sandbags to properties (normally a maximum of 8 sandbags per property) located in formal flood warning zones during a declared Flood Warning period in Appleby and Eamont Bridge.  Deliver sand bags to vulnerable customers where individual properties are at imminent risk of flooding, subject to available resources and other priorities during a flooding event.  Where considered appropriate, make sandbags available for collection by customers from the Contractor (Amey Ltd) depot at Old London Road, Penrith. This is only with our prior approval. Telephone 01768 817817.  Provide strategic sandbag stores at places vulnerable to flooding that in the opinion of the Director of Corporate and Legal Services can assist in reducing the demand on resources during a flooding incident. All sandbag stores are subject to on-going review of usage.  Assist properties outside of the district when requested to do so by a neighbouring Authority or resulting from a request following the implementation of the County Emergency Plan, subject to available resources.

What we will not do:  Provide sandbags to non-residential properties not in formal flood zones.  Clear blocked culverts bridges and watercourses during a flood event, or afterwards on land that is not in the Council's ownership.  Accept responsibility for placement of sandbags, except at locations where infirmity or disability is an issue.  Accept responsibility for the disposal of sandbags other than in the formal flood warning zones  Provide sandbags to protect gardens, outbuildings or other structures  Provide sandbags where there is deemed to be no imminent risk of flooding.

As a contingency against potential flooding risks:

Householders and Commercial property owners in flood risk areas are encouraged to make their own provision for flood defence and not rely upon the Council to defend their property.

13 Sandbags will not totally prevent floodwater encroaching into property and householders should remove articles to a safe location above the anticipated flood level. People building flood defences with sandbags should also be aware of the building methods to employ in order to make an effective seal and the health and safety implication of manual handling sandbags as they are exceptionally heavy.

Specialist products are available commercially to help prevent flooding of domestic properties. Specialist surveying services are also available to assess individual properties and advise on appropriate flood protection measures. If you require advice on these products or services we will try to assist you.

The Environment Agency website has further information on preparing for a flood. For Further Information Contact: Property and Contracts Manager Email: [email protected] Telephone: 01768 817 817 Address: Eden District Council, Mansion House, Penrith, Cumbria CA11

14 Appendix B: Policies of Other Authorities

Policies of Cumbrian Authorities

Allerdale Borough Council

Allerdale Borough Council does not issue sandbags. Allerdale does offer free flood sacks to be collected only. However Allerdale did provide sandbags during the November 2014 Floods. Please see extract below:

‘Flood sacks (similar to sand bags)

Our area offices have supplies of FREE flood sacks for residents and businesses to collect to help people protect their property from flooding. Click the link to see opening times and locations. Flood sacks are also available from the following locations: The creamery at Station Road, Aspatria Silloth Town Council Yard, off Skinburness Road Hazelmere Guest House, Crosthwaite Road, Keswick. Wigton Hospital, Cross Lane, Wigton

Flood sacks are items which swell when placed in water and can act as a barrier, much like a sand bag, to divert water. When dry they are light and reasonably flat so they can be stored for when they are required.

If you are worried about flooding you can also get sandbags and flood sacks from builders merchants. Please remember that sandbags and flood sacks are only an aid to slowing down water ingress. They cannot be relied upon to protect your property from flooding.’ http://www.allerdale.gov.uk/advice-and-benefits/flood-recovery-and-advice.aspx

Barrow Borough Council

Barrow Borough Council does not provide sandbags.

Carlisle City Council

Carlisle City Council does not issue sandbags. However Sandbags were offered during the November 2014 Floods.

Copeland Borough Council

Copeland Borough Council does provide sandbags to residential properties and will deliver. Below is an extract from their website

‘However, sandbags are of limited use. In the short term they will deflect running water and filter any contaminants in the water. Where there is standing water and the water level is higher than doors or airbricks sandbags will be of no use.

15 Sandbags will be of no help if your property is already flooded and we discourage their use in these circumstances unless there is a risk from sewage contamination. If you are in a flood risk area, or have a history of flooding, then you should be considering more comprehensive flood protection.

You can make a sandbag barrier more effective by draping a plastic sheet over the top of the bags and then weighing this down with further sandbags to make a seal. We do not provide plastic sheets or plastic bags. Once the sandbags have been delivered they become the property owner’s responsibility including the responsibility for their deployment, proper maintenance and disposal when not needed.

You can request sandbags for your home by contacting us on 0845 054 8600. Our aim is to deliver them on the same day, within six hours if high rainfall is predicted (in extreme flooding this may not be achievable), or next day delivery in dry conditions. There are practical limitations to how many bags can be delivered.

We do not provide sandbags for commercial properties, and we do not arrange the free collection of used sandbags.’ http://www.copeland.gov.uk/faq/sandbags

South Lakeland District Council

South Lakeland District Council has sandbags available for collection at their depots in Kendal, Windermere and Ulverston. An extract from South Lakelands website can be found below.

‘Local Authorities are not required to provide materials for flood protection, but South Lakeland District Council will supply sandbags as an emergency or as a preventative measure. In the short term sandbags are adequate for deflecting running water or deflecting the effects waves produced by passing vehicles and in filtering any contaminants in the water. Where there is standing water and the water level is higher than doors or airbricks sandbags will be of no use. Sandbags will be of no help if your property is already flooded.

Sandbags can be made more effective by covering them with a plastic sheet and then weighing it down with further sandbags to make a seal. Once sandbags have been delivered they become the property owner’s responsibility and this includes the responsibility for their use, maintenance and disposal. If you are in a flood risk area, or have a history of flooding, then you should be considering more comprehensive flood protection.’ http://www.southlakeland.gov.uk/your-neighbourhood/floodline/

Cumbria County Council

Cumbria County Council does not provide sandbags and redirects residents to the district level.

Environment Agency

The Environment Agency does not provide sandbags to members of the public.

16 Policies of Other Councils Impacted by Recent Flooding

Lancaster County Council

Lancaster County Council does not state either way but directs residents to their district council. However during the December 2015 floods Lancaster County Council offered residents and businesses the opportunity to buy sandbags from the council. They charged £85.00 for 10 bags and then £3.70 for each additional bag (up to a maximum of 20).

Preston City Council

The council does not hold a stock of sandbags. We encourage residents or landlords to make their own arrangements with local building suppliers if they feel that sandbags would be of use.

South Somerset District Council

South Somerset District Council has a stock of sandbags and gel-filled 'expandable' bags for use in flooding emergencies which it will issue free of charge.

‘Priority will be given in the provision of sandbags to domestic property at imminent risk of an internal flooding emergency. Experience to date suggests that 6 per external doorway (excluding doorways to garages or outbuildings) is sufficient but we will evaluate all requests on a needs basis.

Please note that this service is subject to availability of resources which can often be stretched in emergency situations. To request sandbags please phone us on 01935 462462 (when the offices are closed you will need to hold on and be transferred to our Out of Hours cover for emergencies).

In recognition of the fact that all property owners may need to consider 'self-help' options in advance to protect their property from flooding they may wish to purchase sandbags (filled or empty) from alternative sources. They can be obtained from most local builders’ merchants or from the following suppliers who can deliver filled sandbags for as little as £3 each. (The website then lists 9 different sources to contact for sandbags or related flood equipment)’ http://www.southsomerset.gov.uk/environment/emergency-planning/request-sandbags

Sedgemoor District Council

A limited sandbag provision is currently a service provided by Sedgemoor District Council but may be subject to availability of materials and resources.

‘When flooding is officially forecast by the Environment Agency, and where resources allow, Sedgemoor District Council will provide sandbags for residents to collect. Proof of address is required to ensure limited stocks reach the most vulnerable areas/properties. We regret that we cannot issue sandbags, 'just in case', as sandbags deteriorate relatively quickly and may be unusable when you need to rely upon them.

The Council keep a limited stock of sandbags for residents to collect in order to protect external doors and air bricks that are at flood risk. Residents will normally

17 be restricted to a maximum of 6 sandbags per external doorway. The Council is unable to provide sandbags to protect land, gardens, garages, sheds, outhouses, drives or similar as this diverts resources away from protecting homes.

Where a resident is unable to collect sandbags from our depot due to restricted access caused by flooding or because they are elderly, vulnerable or disabled Sedgemoor District Council will endeavour to deliver sandbags to the property. This is subject to staff resource and vehicle access being available. During times of emergency resources to provide this service may be stretched. Residents who wish to have sandbags delivered to their property should contact their village agent in the first instance. A list of Village Agents and their contact details is available from the Community Council for Somerset via: http://somersetrcc.org.uk/somerset- village-agents-project/ or 01823 331222.

The Council will keep and maintain a record of properties that request sandbags as in previous years. The responsibility for positioning the sandbags will lie with residents. Sandbags issued will become the responsibility of the resident for removal and disposal. The Council is unable to collect sandbags after use.

Sandbag Policy during times of severe flooding:

During times of severe flooding (or where there is a threat of severe flooding) where many properties are likely to be affected, sandbags may be deposited at a central point in the local area for resident collection. http://www.sedgemoor.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=8959

Uttlesford District Council

Uttlesford District Council does not offer sandbags directly to each individual but provides the resources to the local Parish Council. http://www.uttlesford.gov.uk/floodingadvice

‘Uttlesford District Council used to supply sandbags in the event of flooding. However, this has become an inefficient service and the council is not able to match the demand, something that was all too evident in the floods of February 2009. From 1 April 2010 the district council will no longer respond to flooding in the same way as it has done in the past.

In many of the parishes in Uttlesford, parish councils have taken on a stock of sandbags to distribute should flooding occur. It is advised that you contact your local parish council if you are concerned about flooding and wish to know if sandbags will be available.

Uttlesford District Council does not have a legal duty to supply sandbags, but it does have a legal duty to respond to an emergency and during flooding it would try to assist you should you need to evacuate your home.We would ask that if you have suffered flooding recently or are aware that your property is affected by seasonal or occasional flooding, that you look at what you can do to protect your property. You are responsible for your own property.’

18 Appendix C: Revised Sandbag Policy

Sandbag Policy

For flood related advice and weather warnings see our flood recovery information.

As a contingency against potential flooding risks:

Householders and Commercial property owners in flood risk areas are urged to make their own provision for flood defence and not rely upon the Council to defend their property.

Sandbags will not totally prevent floodwater encroaching into property and householders should remove articles to a safe location above the anticipated flood level. People building flood defences with sandbags should also be aware of the building methods to employ in order to make an effective seal and the health and safety implication of manual handling sandbags as they are exceptionally heavy.

The Environment Agency website has further information on preparing for a flood.

If you are a local community who wishes to create your own emergency plan please contact ACTion with Communities in Cumbria for further information

If you are an individual whose residential property has been flooded previously you may be eligible for a Property Level Flood Resilience Grant Scheme. For more information please Click Here.

In the event of River or Watercourse Flooding: Containment and Prevention

The primary responsibility for protection of private property in the event of a flood lies with individual owners and not the District Council or any other Agency. Individuals, particularly those who live in isolated locations, are strongly advised to use every available method to ensure their own flood resilience.

What we may do:  Provide sand and sandbags to properties (normally a maximum of 8 sandbags per property) located in formal flood warning zones.  Provide sand and sandbags in bulk to established flood groups located in formal flood warning zones.

19  Deliver sand bags to individual residential properties that are at imminent risk of flooding, subject to available resources and other priorities during flooding event and providing that there are safe conditions to deliver the sandbags.  Where considered appropriate, make sandbags available for collection by customers from the Contractor (Amey Ltd) depot at Old London Road, Penrith. This is only with our prior approval. Telephone 01768 817817.  Assist in the provision of strategic sandbag stores at places vulnerable to flooding that can assist in reducing the demand on resources during an emergency flooding incident.  Assist properties outside of the district when requested to do so by a neighbouring Authority or resulting from a request following the implementation of the County Emergency Plan, subject to available resources.

What we will not do:  Provide sandbags to business premises. Businesses are urged to ensure they take the necessary steps to ensure their own flood resilience.  Clear blocked culverts bridges and watercourses during a flood event, or afterwards on land that is not in the Council's ownership.  Accept responsibility for placement of sandbags, except at locations where infirmity or disability is an issue.  Accept responsibility for the disposal or removal of sandbags other than in the formal flood warning zones  Provide sandbags to protect gardens, outbuildings or other structures  Provide sandbags where there is deemed to be no imminent risk of flooding.

For Further Information Contact: Property and Contracts Manager Email: [email protected] Telephone: 01768 817 817 Address: Eden District Council, Mansion House, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 7YG