Action for Silk Stream community and business engagement
Read more about this engagement
We asked
We asked residents and businesses to have their say on the Action for Silk Stream (AfSS) project so far. By doing so, we gathered data on the following aspects related to the project:
- awareness, knowledge, and experience of flooding
- locations where flooding / pollution incidents are taking place
- support for methods of managing flood risk
- levels of resident flood protection methods
- engagement with rivers, watercourses and wetlands and the project
- improvements the project can make
You said
We received 92 responses to the survey and saw a good spread of responses from residents across the Silk Stream catchment. 30% of respondents had previously participated in an AfSS volunteer day, and 31% had attended an AfSS event.
Some of the key findings include:
- 99% agreed that managing flood risk in the Silk Stream Catchment is important.
- 73% of respondents are aware of the causes of flooding.
- Only 34% of respondents know where to seek advice / keep updated about the local flooding situation, with just 40% knowing how to protect their homes and local area from flooding.
- 60% have experienced flooding and 28% believe their property is at risk. Common sources of the risk cited were:
- rainfall (51%)
- sewer blockages (43%)
- local river (40%)
- 26 locations and descriptions where flooding and pollution are occurring were submitted.
- 66% indicated that they would like project / event updates and to volunteer for AfSS.
We also received numerous comments on our events. General themes include:
- longer sessions
- more regular events
- more outreach work with businesses and inclusive activities
- river restoration, arts and crafts, wildlife walks and exercise sessions were suggested as potential new events.
- social media is the main platform people use to find information.
We did
The results from the online survey will help inform our mid-project evaluation. The project team will use the findings to help to further shape the project and the engagement programme in its final two years.
