People living in Sefton and Wirral could find themselves wading through water after heavy rainfall, as flood risks in both areas are on the rise.
A recent UK Flood Report has revealed the top 10 areas where the risk of flooding has increased the most, with Sefton and Wirral taking the top two spots.
Sefton has seen a 31.58% increase in properties with a flood risk of 1% or higher since 2018 according to experts at Utility Bidder. In 2020, the authority had 325 properties with high flood risk, compared to just 247 in 2018.
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It was followed closely by Wirral, which has seen a 17% increase number of properties with a flood risk of 1% or higher, rising from 487 in 2018 to 571.
Warrington also made the top 10 list with an increase of 1.74%, placing it behind Blackpool (10.87%), Lancashire (8.76%), Wiltshire (8.46%), Bury (7.62%), and Dorset (1.95%).
Large parts of Merseyside's coastline are at risk of going underwater in the next 30 years due to climate change.
A number of capital projects aimed at mitigating flood risk were put forward by Sefton Flood Resilience Strategic Working Group and the Maghull Operational Officer Group in the aftermath of Storm Christoph in January 2021, which caused serious flooding in the area's Park and Molyneux wards.
These included the removal of obstructions at several watercourses and silting to ease the flow of water and reduce the likelihood of flooding. Surface water hotspot mapping was also carried out to judge the extent of the risks, along with a viability assessment on works at Southport watercourse.
James Longely, managing director at Utility Bidder, said: “In England, one in five properties are at risk of flooding, which goes to show the importance of being prepared for a flood and protecting your property as much as possible and there are a number of steps homeowners can take if a flood alert has been issued, which will help reduce the damage caused to the property and the contents within it.
"It’s important to move all important documents and valuable possessions upstairs in order to keep them away from the incoming water, as well as unplugging any electrical items. It’s also advised that homeowners take pictures of their home before the flood happens, as you can easily prove which damage has been caused as a result of the flood.
"Sadly, there’s only so much homeowners can do to protect their properties from flooding, so it’s crucial we all know what to do after a flood has occurred. To begin with, it’s important to ring your insurance company as well as the local council, to make them aware of what has happened. If the flooding is severe and water levels are high, you must stay in a high place until help arrives.”
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