Stowmarket councillor questions work on Suffolk rivers

James Patchett, who represents the Stow Thorney ward at Mid Suffolk District Council, believes the River Gipping in Stowmarket is in a "worse condition" than it was this time last year. 

The Green Party councillor saw his own home flood during Storm Babet, and is urging the Environment Agency to take action following a build up of silt in the rivers in the town.

Councillor James Patchett (Image: Mid Suffolk District Council) READ MORE: Stowmarket news

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He said: "After the winter storms, a lot of silt, dirt, rubble and logs all got transported down the River Gipping. And a lot of those got deposited in the Stowmarket stretch. 

"After Storm Babet, you will see big banks of silt. They just haven't been cleared. 

"It means you're narrowing the width of the Gipping, but also raising the river bed up so your channel is shallow than what it was."

In his column in the East Anglian Daily Times, councillor Patchett questioned what "physical measures" have been put in "by those responsible for maintaining our water courses".

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He urged the Environment Agency to "take action" in clearing rivers and managing the maintenance of them. 

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said they "understand the concerns" felt by residents in the town and that they had been discussing flood management with multiple parties.

They added: "Since Storm Babet we’ve carried out a detailed review of our flood alert and flood warning thresholds for Stowmarket, which has areas at risk of flooding from both the Rattlesden River and the River Gipping. We’ve reviewed our flood alert and flood warning areas and have amended these to take into account recent flood history.

"These improvements will result in an additional 10 properties being better warned and informed of flooding from main rivers in the future."