Rutland Residents Urged to Shape Decade-Long Plan to Tackle Rising Flood Risks
By Local Democracy Reporter
Rutland County Council has launched a major public consultation on its blueprint for tackling flooding over the next ten years, following a series of devastating storms that have battered the county in recent years.
The draft Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS) sets out how the council, in its role as the Lead Local Flood Authority, intends to manage risks from surface water, groundwater, and ordinary watercourses through to 2036.
The updated strategy arrives at a critical time for the county. While the previous plan covered 2018 to 2025, council leaders say this new version is heavily informed by "lessons learned" from a string of severe weather events, including:
Storm Babet (October 2023)
Storm Henk (January 2024)
The January 2025 rainfall event
The document also incorporates findings from the Rutland Flooding Evidence Panel and various "Section 19" investigations—the formal reports triggered when a flood reaches a certain threshold of severity.
Under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, the council has a legal obligation to maintain and apply a management strategy. While the council admits it is "not possible to prevent flooding entirely," the new strategy aims to bridge the gap between emergency response and long-term resilience for homes, businesses, and infrastructure.
The draft strategy focuses on local sources of flooding rather than main rivers (which fall under the Environment Agency), specifically targeting how the county handles intense rainfall and rising water tables.
How to Have Your Say
The consultation is now live and will remain open for eight weeks, giving residents, business owners, and parish councils the opportunity to influence the final action plan.
"Your views will help shape how Rutland County Council and its partners work together to understand, reduce and manage flood risk in the years ahead," a council spokesperson said.
Key Dates:
Consultation Closes: 5:00 PM, Monday, 9 February 2026
Residents are encouraged to read the full Draft Local Flood Risk Management Strategy on the Rutland County Council website before completing the online survey. Hard copies are typically available at local libraries and the Council offices at Catmose.
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