Workshops to urge Herne Hill residents to prepare for next flood

A series of workshops will urge Herne Hill residents to prepare for the next flood, 10 years after a burst water main left vehicles submerged and street furniture washed away.

Blue Patch, a social enterprise, has invited the community to a flood preparation workshop, featuring expert talks, at the Half Moon Pub in Half Moon Lane, on September 18.

The Coffee, Cake & Connect: Are You Ready for a Flood? event will provide advice on flood resilience and recovery from two of the UK’s leading experts, Mary Long-Dhonau and Gareth Boyd, chief executive of Watertight International.

Ms Long-Dhonau, also known as Flood Mary, is at the forefront of flood risk education in the UK.

She said: “Having been flooded myself, I understand the emotional and financial toll it can take.

“Preparing for floods is no longer optional – it’s a necessity. I look forward to sharing practical steps to help make homes and businesses more resilient to this growing threat.”

Herne Hill’s location, combined with its historical ties to the now culverted River Effra, makes it particularly susceptible to such events.

During the 2004 storms, London saw torrential downpours that overwhelmed Herne Hill’s drainage systems, flooding properties with surface water and damaging homes and businesses.

Around 60mm of rainfall fell over two hours, flooding 200 properties in the area and causing roughly £1million of damage to council infrastructure alone.

Then in 2013, a 3ft-wide water main burst at the junction of Half Moon Lane.

The flood ripped through 37 homes and businesses in Half Moon lane, Dulwich Road, Milkwood Road, Herne Hill and Norwood Road.

On the day of the flood, the Half Moon pub saw 60,000 litres of water removed from its basement alone using high volume pumping equipment.

Lloyds TSB’s insurance department estimated the incident caused around £2million of damage to properties.

Jane Langley, CEO of Blue Patch, said: “Being based in Herne Hill, I’ve seen the floods and the resulting fall-out firsthand.

“It is crucial to bring the local community together and arm them with practical knowledge, expert advice, and the tools they need to safeguard their homes and businesses against future climate risks.

“Our aim is to empower communities across the country with taking control of their flood preparedness, so they can build a more resilient future.”

To purchase a £20 ticket for the event, visit: https://www.bluepatch.org/protect-your-business- and-home-from-flooding-with-this-interactive-workshop/

For more information, visit www.floodmary.com, www.watertightint.com and www.bluepatch.org.

Pictured top: Mary Long-Dhonau, also known as Flood Mary, will be leading the workshop talks (Picture: Blue Patch)