Flooding

In this episode we are looking at flooding and in particular at the flash floods of July 2021 which had devastating effects on homes, businesses and schools. Portobello Road became a river in minutes and it became national news. We brought together Fiona Fleming-Brown from Portobello Flood Action Group and James Latham from RBKC to discuss the challenges and solutions, plus we talk to headmasters David Sellens (Thomas Jones) and Ben McMullen (Avondale Park) whose schools were flooded; to James Burton, the Council's tree expert, and to Sarah Cross of Lancaster West's Neighbourhood Team, who oversaw the creation of a rain garden in Verity Close.

 Climate change means London can expect more intense, heavy downpours, even if summers become drier overall. Kensington and Chelsea has the highest number of properties at risk of surface water and sewer flooding in the whole of London, especially basements. Notting Dale is particularly at risk. Water from other parts of London gravitates here and we have a high proportion of hard surfaces which feed the water into the Victorian drainage systems.