Local Flood Risk Management Strategy consultation

Have your say on our proposed Local Flood Risk Management Strategy 2023 - 2029 

Overview

The climate is changing and flooding is likely to become more frequent and intense. Severe flooding causes many negative impacts, such as property damage, mental health, social wellbeing and even danger to life. We are already seeing the effects of climate change. In July 2021, Barnet saw a record-breaking rainfall event. The impacts of climate change were evident and borough wide flooding on highways, pavements, properties, and shops was experienced. The risk of flooding is expected to exacerbate with rapid urbanisation, unprecedented population growth, and evident impacts of climate change. Barnet’s need for a robust strategy to manage flood risk and increase the population's resilience has never been greater.

We all have a role to play in preventing climate change which includes taking action to help prevent flooding. The council, as the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) for the borough, has a duty to “develop, maintain, apply and monitor” a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS) for Barnet.

Aim of the strategy

The aim of the strategy is to work in partnership with local communities and organisations responsible for managing flooding in order to better understand and reduce, local flood risk in Barnet. The LFRMS is a key statutory document which explains how different types of local flood risk will be managed within the London Borough of Barnet for a six-year period. Our first LFRMS covered the period 2017-2023.

Over the last six months we have been reviewing, collaborating, and consulting with our key partners and other stakeholders in terms of updating the current 2017- 2023 Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS) for Barnet. Together we have developed a new strategy and action plan that we propose to implement over the next six years to help tackle and manage the risk of flooding.

We now want your views on our draft strategy for 2023 - 2029.

What are we consulting on

We want to hear your views on our proposed updated Local Flood Risk Management Strategy and the Action Plan for 2023-2029. In particular, we want to hear from residents, community groups, tenants, landlords, organisations, businesses and all other interested parties.

We are keen to hear if you think the strategy is clear and easy to understand, and what you think of the strategic objectives and proposed actions plan that we have included in our draft strategy.

We also want to hear what you know about flooding and the guidance and processes in place if you were to experience a flood in the future. Your feedback will help us understand how we can better communicate with you in the future about flooding guidance; we are particularly keen to know:

• if you have been affected by flooding in the past
• what you know about flood management in your local area, and
• your knowledge of what to do in a flood situation.

Before completing our questionnaire below please take the time to read our summary consultation document and action plan. Alternatively, you can read the strategy in full. Further appendices to the strategy are provided in the document library on the right hand side of this page.

How to have your say:

Complete our online questionnaire

Please have your say by completing our online questionnaire.

If you would like to request a paper questionnaire or another format, please:

• Email fwm@barnet.gov.uk or telephone 020 8359 2000.
• Alternatively, you can write to us at Lead Local Flood Authority Team, London Borough of Barnet, 2 Bristol Avenue, Colindale, NW9 4EW.

If you would like someone to help you complete the questionnaire or need more information, please contact us using one of the above methods.

Attend one of our drop-in sessions to learn more about our draft strategy and action plan 

Throughout the consultation we are running a series of open drop-in session to answer any questions you may have on:

• our updated strategy and action plan
• previous and potential local flooding in your area
• steps you need to take to protect your property from flooding
• and any other queries or concerns you may have on flooding.

The drop in sessions will take place at the following venues, dates and times:

What happens after the consultation closes?

The Council will use the consultation findings to inform our final decision. We will publish the results of the consultation, our decision and how we are acting on the results of the consultation on this page.