Researchers are calling for more people to offer their views about flooding. Image courtesy of Shutterstock.

Researchers call for Crediton residents to pool flood info

Crediton residents have so far provided a wealth of information about flooding vulnerabilities around the town as part of a community project being led by the University of Exeter, and now researchers are calling for more people to get involved.

Flooding effectively cuts off Crediton when the Rivers Yeo and Creedy burst their banks and the project needs residents to provide evidence about specific places that flood, offer their views about the causes and suggest ideas about what can be done to prevent future flooding. 

The Crediton Flood Resilience Group, comprising University of Exeter researchers, Crediton residents, the Fire Service and the County Council, was created in February 2015. The group has used information gathered from residents and from local archives to identify key areas, roads and properties which are vulnerable to flooding within and beyond the town. 

As heavy rainfall events are expected to become more intense in the coming decades, the group wants to put in place a viable flood resilience plan for the area, which recognises that in future the risks to property and infrastructure may be associated with surface water and flash floods. 

Dr Stewart Barr from Geography at the University of Exeter said: “We want to find an effective way for communities to cope with the risks associated with climate change. The issue of flooding in a rural Devon community allows us to explore the potential for using 'co-learning' between community members, academic researchers and local agencies to understand the flood risks. The project will result in a community flood resilience plan based on the different types of knowledge contributed.”

Local residents are urged to get in touch with answers to the following questions: 

  • Have you been affected by flooding and if so, what have the impacts been on you, your family and property?
  • How has flooding in recent years in and around Crediton affected you and your business or working life?
  • Are there particular areas in or around Crediton that you feel are particularly vulnerable to flooding?
  • Are there particular factors that you think can increase the risks associated with flooding?
  • What do you think we can do to reduce the risks of flooding in and around the town? 

To participate visit the project blog: http://blogs.exeter.ac.uk/creditonfloods/ 

The group will use the information provided to develop a flooding area map that will form part of a community research event, to be hosted by the Crediton Community Bookshop, on Wednesday the 23rd of September 2015 from 5-7pm. 

Everyone is welcome to come and learn about the group’s work, share their views, and help work with agencies like Devon County Council and the Fire Service to reduce the risks of flooding in the area. 

Date: 3 August 2015