Framlingham: Storm Babet Information Page
The Environment Agency has created this page to inform interested parties about the actions taken and planned in Framlingham since Storm Babet in October 2023.
Flood Investigation Report
Led by Suffolk County Council with support from the Environment Agency and other Risk Management Authorities the final report can be found here(External link)
While the flood investigation reports were being developed the Environment Agency have worked on a number of actions:
Flood Warning Service
Over the summer 2023, we expanded the flood warning area to incorporate all properties which flooded from the main river in October 2023. The revised warning area will go live on the system by the end of November 2024.
Watercourse Maintenance
Environment Agency routine maintenance is carried out annually in the autumn months. This ensures the watercourse can cope with normal winter flows. This years' routine maintenance was completed in October 2024. The works involved walking through the channel with hand tools cutting any overhanging / overgrown vegetation and removing any hard obstacles and potential blockages from within the channel. Particular attention was paid to pinch points like footbridges, culverts or trash screens.
The team have also made regular visits since Storm Babet to both monitor and clear the channel, particularly as blockages are reported.
We are working with landowners regarding riparian responsibilities, including the removal of trees. We also continue to respond to reported blockages within the town and have removed items such as tyres and pallets.
We have employed consultants who will be carrying out hydraulic modelling to better understand the impact of varying channel maintenance on flood risk in the town, and whether the Environment Agency’s maintenance regime could be improved – this work is ongoing.
Capital Projects
While we can't prevent floods, we can often lessen their impact. In Framlingham, the Environment Agency is exploring ways to reduce flood risks to people and property. We're analysing the frequency of Storm Babet in Suffolk; this data and future flood model improvements will influence availability of government funding for flood mitigation. This initial step is crucial for further investments and will help create a list of options which will be reviewed with community input.
Community Engagement
Since Storm Babet we have undertaken and supported the following engagement activities:
- EA community Information Officers visited Framlingham to talk to residents on 24 and 25 October 2023 and 12 January 2024.
- 22 December 2023: An information letter sent to the community updating on what happened, the actions taken since Storm Babet and next steps. A copy can be seen under Related Documents.
- 21 January 2024: Supported the Town council's community meeting.
- September 2024: An information letter had been sent out to riparian owners, raising awareness of the rights and responsibilities.
- 8 October 2024: Supported Framlingham Flood Resilience and Recovery Working Group.
Note: Riparian Ownership Guidance
A Riparian Owner is somebody who has a watercourse running beneath, through or on the border of their land. This might be a river, stream, ditch or buried watercourse.
If you believe you are a riparian owner and would like more information, see the PDF under Related Documents.
Sharing Expertise
- We have been working closely with Suffolk County Council to collate information, much of it collected by the EA in the aftermath of the floods, to help complete the Section 19 flood investigation report.
- Similarly, we have shared information with Leigh Parratt from Amazi Consulting, who was working for the Town Council, to help inform the flood report.
- We had a site visit on 5 March 2024 with Suffolk Wildlife Trust and Framlingham College and provided advice – this was in response to residents’ concerns of debris from the area surrounding the mere.