Stony Stratford Flood Action Group Welcomes Local MP

Last week, local leaders and flooding campaigners met in Stony Stratford to reflect on the progress made since the town’s severe flooding in 2020, and to discuss the next steps to improve protection against future events.

Chris in Stony Stratford with local flood campaigners.

The Stony Stratford Flood Action Group welcomed Chris Curtis, Labour MP for Milton Keynes North and local ward councillor Cllr Jennifer Wilson-Marklew, alongside representatives from Milton Keynes City Council and Stony Stratford Town Council, to visit the floodplain and view some of the areas of the town which were worst affected during the 2020 flood.

Chris and Jennifer toured the various structures which affect the passage of floodwater past Stony Stratford.  They also visited some flood-affected properties and saw examples of property-level flood defences previously installed in the area.

The 2020 flood, caused by the River Great Ouse overflowing after intense and sustained rainfall, was one of the worst in the town’s recent history.

In response, significant physical flood alleviation work has been delivered with support from Stony Stratford Flood Action Group, the Milton Keynes City Council Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), the Internal Drainage Board (Bedford Group of Drainage Boards), the Environment Agency, and The Parks Trust. This work has included clearing blockages and culverts but, although so much positive work has already been done, more work is still needed. Possible options which will help the river cope with future extreme rainfall are being explored locally and also by the Environment Agency following their Initial Assessment Report of September 2022.

Chris Curtis, MP for Milton Keynes North, said: "It was brilliant to visit Stony Stratford and see the substantial flood-alleviation efforts being made by the Flood Action Group, Milton Keynes City Council and others. I’m committed to doing all I can to support continued investment in flood protection and ensure our community is equipped to cope with extreme weather."

Stephen Blakey, Chair of FLAG, commented: “We are delighted that the Flood Action Group’s efforts to alleviate flooding in Stony Stratford with the help of Milton Keynes City Council LLFA, the IDB (Bedford Group of Drainage Boards), Environment Agency and Parks Trust are now being actively supported by our MP and Councillors – there is still much work to be done.”

Alan Nicholls, local flood campaigner, said: “It is good to see that our MP and Councillors are so actively interested in our local property flooding situation. Their support is a key element in our efforts to reduce the town’s vulnerability to flooding.”