Recent weeks have seen extensive work being undertaken by the Environment Agency to clear out and de-silt Sileby Brook in the centre of the village, following calls for the work to be done from local residents, Sileby Flood Group, Councillors and Edward, as Sileby's local MP.
Following the floods in the village on 6th January, the Sileby Flood Group was formed by volunteers to press for practical steps that could be taken to reduce the risk of future flooding in the village, and Edward has now met with the group twice to agree actions, and join with local Councillors in calling on various different organisations, like the Environment Agency (EA) and LCC to act to tackle identified issues. One of those was the state of the Brook in the centre of the village, with mud, silt and vegetation filling parts of the watercourse, creating obstructions to the water flow. Edward, and others, earlier this year pressed the EA to bring forward a full clean-out of the parts of the Brook they are responsible for, and has welcomed the very good job they have recently made of it.
Edward said: "I'm very grateful to the Environment agency and the team who carried out the works to remove mud, silt and obstructions in the section of the Brook in the centre of the village. While there remains more work to do higher up the Brook to clear additional blockages, I think this is an important and positive step forward that should ease water flow, and hopefully help reduce flood risk.
Over recent months I have now met with Sileby Flood Group volunteers and local Councillors on two occasions for what have been very constructive and positive meetings, with everyone working together, focussed on coming up with practical actions we want to see carried out, and, importantly, to keep up the pressure throughout the summer months ahead of the winter. Reducing flood risk in Sileby remains a top priority for me as the village's local MP, and I look forward to working in partnership with all involved to collectively help make a difference for the village."
