_Chalvey Flood Action Group_
Empowering the Community and Tackling Flood Challenges
The National Flood Forum
The only charity dedicated to supporting flooded communities across England and Wales. NFF is working with residents who have experienced flooding, ensuring they are at the heart of any decision- making.
Flood Action Groups
A group of individuals who have experienced flood, and represent the voice of the community. A Flood Action Group gives hope to individuals affected and brings a community together with a strengthened collective voice, providing support from professionals and connection to the authorities and organisations that manage flood risk.
NEW HOPE
The Chalvey Flood Action Group has seen significant progress since the NFF began working with residents in October 2023. The residents of Newbery Way, struggling for years with recurring flooding, found new hope through a series of community-led efforts and partnerships with key authorities. Initially, the group had difficulties maintaining momentum, with challenges ranging from mobility issues among residents to a lack of wider community support. However, with NFF’s intervention, the group re-formed and began addressing their concerns in earnest.
By the end of 2023, NFF facilitated multiple meetings to thoroughly examine the root causes of flooding in Chalvey. Some of the major concerns identified included an overflowing ditch from Salt Hill Stream, inadequate maintenance of local drainage systems, and the potential flood risk exacerbated by the Montem Bellway housing development. The group’s initial focus was on determining which authorities were responsible for key water management and street assets, such as sewers, grills, and fencing.
In early February 2024, Chalvey residents took a major step forward by holding their first official multi-agency meeting. This brought together representatives from relevant authorities, including Slough Borough Council (SBC), Thames Water, the Environment Agency, and Project Sponge. The meeting allowed residents to directly express their concerns and work toward practical solutions.
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WHERE ARE WE NOW?
By the summer of 2024, NFF had facilitated three multi-agency meetings, each yielding positive results and fostering a healthy working relationship between residents and the responsible authorities. The Chalvey community, having shown tremendous commitment, participated in workshops to learn about Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS). Residents actively contributed ideas in brainstorming sessions to find ways to reduce the risk of flooding. These sessions were crucial for ensuring that the solutions put forward were both practical and aligned with the community’s needs.
The benefits of these meetings extended beyond practical outcomes. The atmosphere of collaboration and mutual respect during the multi-agency discussions has left the Chalvey Flood Action Group feeling optimistic. For the first time, residents felt their voices were being heard, and that tangible action was being taken to address their long-standing concerns. The group is now at a stage where solutions are being proposed and evaluated by both the residents and the relevant flood authorities.
One resident, Stella, expressed her gratitude to the NFF and Project Sponge, stating, “Despite years of inaction by governing bodies, we now feel confident that real progress is being made. Last week’s walk along the Brook was a great opportunity for us and the authorities to see the situation first-hand and discuss potential solutions.”
Residents also participated in a walk along the Salt Hill Brook, allowing stakeholders to assess the land and water flow. This walk proved instrumental in generating discussions around specific interventions, such as the installation of balancing ponds, raising riverbanks to prevent overflow, and incorporating offline SuDS like water butts and attenuation ponds.
The group has also proposed solutions to address immediate concerns, including the installation of secondary trash screens upstream to prevent blockages and improve water flow management. The collaboration between residents and authorities has been marked by positive feedback, with attendees describing the meetings as “non-contentious” and “productive.”
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Moving forward, the Chalvey Flood Action Group is focused on continuing its partnership with NFF and the authorities to implement the proposed solutions. With regular meetings and ongoing community engagement, the group is hopeful that flood risks will be significantly reduced in the near future. The next steps involve refining the proposed solutions and ensuring that they are executed effectively.
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Residents have also voiced their appreciation for the consistent support from NFF. Maureen and David, longtime residents of Newbery Way, remarked, “You couldn’t have tried any harder. We are so grateful for the continuous support from NFF and Project Sponge. For the first time, we feel hopeful that real change is possible.”
John Sergeant, another resident, echoed their sentiments, saying,
