By Charlotte Cain
A Leicester city councillor has called for flood defences to be installed to the Great Central Railway within the next year to prevent future flooding damage.
The proposal comes after the devastating floods from a recent storm that led to parts of the historic railway being severely flooded and hundreds of Leicestershire residents homeless.
Councillor Geoff Whittle, Assistant City Mayor (Environment and Transport), proposed in a council meeting on Thursday, January 16, for the defences to be put in.
Mr Whittle said: “A risk management approach [is needed] to the clearing of drains and to have more frequent cleaning of the streets where there are areas of high leaf fall.”
A range of flood defences have been suggested in response to the flooding including a floodgate across the Great Central Railway.
The proposal comes after the devastating floods from multiple storms left hundreds of Leicestershire residents homeless.
The damage caused by the storms was so immense some residents were left without properties as rivers overflowed into their homes.
Mr Whittle said: “Concepts will be prepared by the Environment Agency, and I hope to get it within the next year or so and we have some progress to report.”
Property owners are now faced with high costs, such as Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre which was hit with the worst flooding it has had since 2012 and now needs £50,000 in donations to get back up and running.
