Mid Devon Council have proposed cutting back on sandbag provisions for residents in the event of flooding. Devon was subject to severe rain and gales in winter 2012. Damage to buildings and bridges was reported and twenty homes were evacuated after water breached the 200-year-old Grand Western Canal at Halberton.

Mid Devon Council reportedly provided 4,500 sandbags through out 2012. The council reported a cost of £19,000 in labour and transport costs and the cost of materials totalled at £3,000.

Councillor’s voted to end the provision of distributing sandbags with the authority keeping up to 250 sandbags for major incidents.

Paul Williams, head of environmental services, said the council could “not be responsible for everything” and it would discuss it with parish councils. He said: “We want to talk to parish councils about where they can have sand and where they can store bags. People don’t expect us to repair things in their homes, the responsibility has to be put somewhere and that is with the owner of the property.”

A final decision will be made by the council’s cabinet on 26 March 2013.

Unfortunately, the increase in flooding events over recent years has meant that flooding is now a real concern for many property owners across the UK.

Is your property prone to flooding? Protectahome have been involved with the provision of flood mitigation services for business and consumer clients for many years. We can discuss what options are available to you to help prevent flooding in your property.

Protectahome became members of the Flood Protection Association in 2003. We have extensive experience and skill in dealing with water management in buildings above and below ground and use these skills to protect properties from the effects of flooding.

If you would like to find out more about flood mitigation systems designed and installed by Protectahome and the related services we provide, please contact us on 0800 055 6966.