Archives for category: Flooding

Birmingham Cafe Scientifique in the Gin Parlour

February 12, 2013 //

Britain’s Biggest Climate Change Campaign – 4 to 10 March 2013

climate week 2013 headerWould you like to plan an event or activity for Climate Week 2013? By registering your event, you can help build a social movement for change, encourage others in your area to run their own event, and profile the fantastic work that you are doing. All registered events will appear on the online map. One of several in the city – Greening up our cities – has been organised by the Thinktank – a Birmingham Cafe Scientifique event, free entry.

On Tuesday 5th March, join Professor Rob Mckenzie (University of Birmingham) to discuss the role that plants play in our urban lifestyles.  Flash floods have become more and more prominent recently as the sheer amount of concrete prevents water from draining correctly but the use of trees and other decorative plants can actually do more harm than good to overall air quality if their location is not considered properly. Come and find out the truth and discover what you can do, if anything, to green up our cities!

6.30pm for 7.00pm start at The Jekyll and Hyde (upstairs Gin Parlour room)
28 Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham, B4 6BJ

 

Contact: Telephone 01212022245      Email: kenny.webster@thinktank.ac

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Categories Birmingham, Environment, Flooding

A local MP, editor and journalist reflect on Birmingham’s draft development plan

December 7, 2012 //

MP Andrew Mitchell is the latest to question housebuilding proposals.

In the Post he is reported to have described Birmingham Council’s draft development plan,“as a one-sided justification for building on the green belt, rather than an independent assessment of housing need”. Many will agree with him that, “Not one blade of grass should be built on until all the other alternatives – brownfield sites in Birmingham and brownfield solutions across the West Midlands – have been properly explored.” There are some facts & figures on the council website.

Simon Jenkins agrees, “Britain today has thousands of acres of land awaiting development. Drive (or, more revealingly, fly) across middle England and everywhere you see post-industrial brownfield sites lying vacant, more, probably, than ever in history. . .

Other questions

1. How many houses are really needed? Should the city just cater for the 30,000 people on housing list? (Note that Mr Mitchell demanded greater information on population projections, issued by the Office of National Statistics, on which the housing demand was based).

Cllr Tahir Ali (employment and development) says that an availability report found capacity for only 43,000 homes within existing built up area – isn’t that more than enough?

2. A city editor asked by email: “Why are B’ham City Council planning to eat into Green Belt when there is so much brown stuff left to develop?” Adding:

Is it that BCC have run out of land they own to build on?
Is it that BCC could allow building but developers are unwilling to build?
Is it that BCC planning won’t allow developers to build?
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Paul Dale answers that the city council’s Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment sought the views of landowners and developers:

“(Chamberlain Files) Builders are rejecting polluted, expensive-to-clean, brownfield, former industrial land in favour of the leafy lanes on Birmingham’s borders with Worcestershire and Warwickshire.

“It was ever thus, as the city council’s SHLAA proves. This statutory document drawn up to guide the Government on future development plans involved asking land owners and developers for their views on the best sites for new build. As a result, 580 hectares of green belt covering 17 separate areas were identified . . .”

And earlier warned:

Birmingham heads a list of West Midlands cities and towns likely to be increasingly at risk of acute flooding over the next 20 years. A study, by consultants Halcrow,  an in-depth analysis for the Regional Assembly, traced close links between floodplains and housing development sites earmarked in the Regional Spatial Strategy. Yet Birmingham is under pressure to build as many as 60,600 new homes by 2026.

Simon Jenkins points out available resources:

“There are up to 400,000 houses empty and the same number of building plots lying idle with permission granted for building. High street premises are vacant because of restrictions on use”.

Next: Social housing advocated in the Council Chamber by Councillor Clancy

 

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Categories Birmingham, City Council, Environment, Flooding, Housing, Industry, Planning

Government funding for Birmingham’s flood defences – or for Trident?

December 3, 2012 //

Address the real or the imaginary threat?

The Post reported the finding of the adaptation sub-committee of the Committee on Climate Change that around 11% per cent of developments built in the last three years in Birmingham are at “serious risk” of a “significant flood”. In November older properties were also affected (below). Selly Oak in November

Though the writer’s search of the July report did not locate this information, it did say:

“Climate change could almost double the number of properties at significant risk of flooding by 2035 unless there is additional action . . . By increasing investment in both flood defences and property protection measures, the number of (existing) properties at significant flood risk could be halved from current levels by 2035 accounting for climate change”.

The Federation of Small Businesses has called for more investment in flood defences as some of their members’ are also suffering from flood damage, but again, after the capital outlay comes the regular expense of maintenance.

This is a nation-wide problem and needs addressing by central government who should use taxpayers’ money wisely.

Ulla Grant (West Midlands CND) suggested some time ago in the Birmingham Mail that if we cannot afford to maintain basic infrastructure Parliament could decide to redirect £30billion or so for a Trident replacement and £2 billion running costs for the next 30 years.

She reminds us that if ever nuclear weapons – now far more powerful – were used again, whether by design or accident, it would be the end of civilisation as we know it: no telephones, no NHS, no computers, no library services and certainly no need for flood defences.

 

Has anyone got a better funding idea?

 

 

 

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Categories Birmingham, Economy, Environment, Flooding, Planning

An introductory survey of the health effects of climate change in the West Midlands

October 18, 2012 //

Our Birmingham has received a summary report surveying the health effects of climate change in the West Midlands. Associated organisations include DEFRA, the Health Protection Agency, UK Climate Projections, the Environment Agency the WM Climate Adaptation Partnership and WMPHO.

This document is aimed at those health professionals who have not yet made the link between climate change and health and was sent by Paul Fisher at the Health Protection Agency, who is one of the authors.

There is a foreword by Dr Rashmi Shukla – Regional Director of Public Health. She welcomes and commends the report`s warning of the potential adverse effects of climate change on human health and the attention it draws to the significant health impacts that are likely to occur in our region during this century.

She concludes that if it galvanises us into action to reduce our carbon emissions it will have served us well, because many of the changes needed to mitigate climate change are also those that will immediately improve both our health and our health care services:

  • a substantial increase in cycling and walking rates,
  • more efficient use of energy,
  • the use, reuse and recycling of the goods and products that we need.

Then comes a series of predictions. Two samples:

1. 2020s: An increase of 5% in food and water borne diseases and an increase of up to 18% in respiratory disease admissions during the summer, which will coincide with a rise in incidence of hay fever and allergies

The short term adaptation strategy:

Continue to use and update the Department of Health’s heatwave plan and ensure insurance policies cover flooding in risk areas, such as the southwest and northeast of the Region.

2. 2050s: Increases in food poisoning of up to 12%. Hay fever and allergies may continue to rise and skin cancer cases could become more common.

Medium-term adaptation strategies:

Ensure that new builds and refurbishments are suitable mitigation strategies for future climates, install insulation and sustainable cooling systems in buildings and introduce green space in urban areas to reduce the Urban Heat Island effect.

Ensure flood defences and river management systems are adequate and continually improved.

Read the report here:

www.climatesoutheast.org.uk/images/uploads/Health_Effects_of_Climate_Change_in_the_West_Midlands_Summary_Report.pdf

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Categories Birmingham, Carbon emissions, Environment, Flooding, Planning

The Birmingham Resilience Group monitors and responds to flooding in Birmingham – but the insurance question is not yet answered

June 30, 2012 //

Although Birmingham is roughly 500 feet above sea level, and flooding has tended to occur in the flood plains of rivers and brooks, increasingly rapid run off of severe rainfall from saturated land is a problem. The Birmingham council website ominously – or prudently – advises:

The River Cole (below), whose rapid floods quickly subside, is monitored by the Environment Agency.

 In a parliamentary written answer [11.6.12], the River Cole in Sparkhill is ‘identified as a regional priority’ and scheduled for work by the Flood Alleviation Scheme, Midlands Environment Agency.

Earlier this year the Environment Agency confirmed it was approving £600k worth of flood defence improvements and exploratory work on waterways within the city.  A 130m wall or embankment will be built to protect properties bordering the River Cole at Colebourne Court in Sheldon and further funding will be spent making improvements along the course of the River Rea. Options for reducing flood risks along the River Cole and its tributaries will be examined in areas including Nethercote Gardens, Solihull and Formans Rd, Sparkhill, and the main river section up to Coventry Road.

The Birmingham Resilience Group has arrangements in place to monitor and respond to flooding in Birmingham. Birmingham City Council and the Environment Agency have worked closely with flood-affected communities to support the development of local community flood warning plans.

A ‘Floodline’ telephone service can be accessed day or night for real-time flood warnings and advice: FLOODLINE 0845 988 1188. Anyone who is at risk from flooding from rivers and within one of the Environment Agency, Flood Warning Areas will automatically be signed-up to receive warnings to their landline telephone.

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Richard Benyon, said that intensive negotiations with the insurance industry on alternative arrangements are needed, as the Statement of Principles expires on 30th June. He has discussed the issues with insurers at a recent conference.

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Categories Birmingham, Environment, Flooding