MUCH of the flooding across Northwich in 2019 can be attributed to ‘heavy rainfall’, a major report into the incident has found.

The section 19 report, which councils are required to carry out by law, also made a total of 19 recommendations for a variety of organisations to undertake — including Cheshire West and Chester Council, United Utilities, and the Environment Agency.

It found that 23 properties were flooded on October 26 and 27, 2019, across Northwich town centre, Weaverham, and Lakeside Caravan Park near Winsford.

Summarising the causes of the town centre flooding, the report said: “The flooding at London Road was likely to have resulted from the rainfall event itself combined with the elevated river levels which restricted the ability of United Utilities, highway and privately owned assets to discharge effectively, via their outfalls, to receiving water bodies, with an element of reverse flows (as not all outfalls in the locality were confirmed as having functioning non-return flaps) and the Dock Road pumping station not operating at maximum capacity also being contributory factors.

“The raised flood defences were not overtopped although there was a leak observed in the vicinity of Dane Bridge; leakage here is likely to have contributed to the water behind the defences in the Bull Ring which was attended to through the deployment of Environment Agency pumps.

“The River Weaver did not breach or overtop the raised defences along Weaver Way. There is a single surface water drain that would not have contributed to the flooding as it is higher than peak water level in the area. The flooding at Weaver Way and High Street is likely to be a result of the rainfall event itself combined with the elevated river levels which restricted flows (river locking) from the highway drainage system, together with localised restrictions therein, potentially leading to surface water flooding and subsequent overland flow to the Weaver Way low ground.”

Overall, investigators recommend ‘collaborative planning and integrated modelling to determine an integrated approach to reduce and manage flood levels in the town centre and discuss opportunities for differing scale/timescale solutions to be developed’.

In its full list of recommendations, the document also outlines that CWAC should ensure ‘non-return valves’ are free of debris at the Weaver Court care home — the site of a dramatic rescue of elderly residents in the 2021 floods.

Additionally, it’s suggested that the council should undertake a programme of maintenance for damaged highway drainage, which would come alongside an investigation into the fat deposits found in the system.

The report is set to be presented at a CWAC cabinet meeting on March 17, which is set to endorse its recommendations.

Councillors are also set to authorise the creation of a ‘Flood Risk Action Group’ and the development ‘within four months’ of ‘a programme of initiatives, schemes and resources that help the borough recover from the flooding impacts of Storm Christoph’.

Residents can view the meeting agenda and see a copy of the report on CWAC’s website.