Chelmsford residents are being urged to sign up for flood warnings this winter.   This comes after a meeting between the Environment Agency and local MP, Vicky Ford.   A total of 2513 properties in Chelmsford have been identified to be in flood warning areas, that is nearly one in every twenty homes or businesses.

Dr Charles Beardall who is the East Anglia Area Manager for the Environment Agency told the MP that many Chelmsford residents are not well informed on flood planning.  Only two thirds of properties in the flood risk areas have signed up for alerts.  This is well below that of other parts of the country. 

Residents are asked to find out if their home or business is at risk of flooding by entering their postcode on www.gov.uk/flood.  If they are in the flood risk area they can sign up for free Flood Warning Service.   This system often can predict coming floods and can give residents at the least 12 hours warning. 

Vicky Ford said “The good news is that Chelmsford has avoided floods in previous winters but the geography of the area means that there is risk of flooding.  It is wise to be prepared.   In the longer term the Environment Agency have identified measures to help protect residential and commercial properties in Chelmsford from flooding.  It is important that these are put in place.”