Sutton and Cheam Labour were very concerned to see the 2021 floods in Worcester Park on Sunday 25th July 2021. It had a major impact on local residents and the local football club. There are also other parts of the borough of Sutton that could be affected too in future from this sort of flash flood event.

The day before the floods happened, Sutton and Cheam Labour got the London Labour Party to pass the following Emergency motion at its conference:

Emergency Motion – Flash Flooding in London

This conference notes reports in the Evening Standard on 20th July that flood warnings have been issued in London and notes previous flash floods in West London and South West London in recent weeks. Forecasters warn of water spray, sudden flooding and lightning strikes, which could lead to power cuts, damage to buildings and delays to public transport. It comes as the UK and London recorded its hottest day of the year so far, after the temperature reached 32.2C (89.96F) at Heathrow Airport in west London on 20th July. Public Health England has also extended its heat-health warning, which warns people to take measures to stay cool and look out for vulnerable people in recent days.

Conference recognises the impact of climate change on London not just in terms of increased temperature, but also more rare and unpredictable weather events, which may mean people, who never thought they would be affected, have their homes severely impacted by flash floods.

Conference therefore agrees to call on the Mayor of London and London Council’s to report back to the Regional Executive on the action they are taking to set out flash flooding plans for vulnerable areas in order to reassure current & future residents and for the Labour Group on the London Assembly to scrutinise on this issue so we can hold Tory and Lib Dem controlled London Councils to account too.

Proposed by Sutton and Cheam CLP

We were pleased to see the Mayor of London is taking urgent action over this issue – see here.

As stated in our local Manifesto we are committed to press the Council to seek maximum government grants to address some of the problems.

Below is some useful material on this issue for people affected and residents in general:

National Government Flood alerts and General Information

• Information and sign up for Flood Alerts
• Flood Alerts Website
• Map of River Gauges – Gauge Map

Sutton Borough – General Information

• Sutton Council Surface Water Management
• Sutton Council Strategic Flood Risk Assessment
• Sutton Council Flood Risk Maps
• Sutton Council Flood Risk Management – General

Worcester Park – Beverley Brook

• Flood Alert for the Beverley Brook
• Beverley Brook Catchment area report
• Kingston Council Strategic Risk Assessment on Flooding