Moves to tackle global warming in Redbridge have been given the green light with a council programme of road resurfacing, flood diversion schemes and tree planting to absorb surface water.
It has begun with £4.2milion earmarked for road and pavement work, now underway covering up to 50 streets over the next 12 months.
The resurfacing is part of a 10-year plan by Redbridge Council to help reduce risk of flooding to properties when the sewers get overwhelmed during heavy rain caused by changing weather patterns.
The roadworks started in Barkingside at Atherton Road and Beattyville Gardens at the beginning of May and is being expanded across Redbridge to help make traffic less polluting and make footways safer for pedestrians.
“Potholes are a regular source of frustration,” Redbridge Council cabinet member Jo Blackman said.
“Good roads and pavements are important to people. This investment builds on a strong track record of initiatives, which is crucial to meet people’s needs.”
Other schemes in the council’s highways programme include £1.8m for more pedestrian crossings at junctions, speed restrictions and road humps, making sure measures are being installed “where they are needed most”, the council insists.
But at the core of the improvements are 13 schemes to reduce flood risks to homes and businesses in several areas that have previously been prone to flooding, such as Seven Kings, Clayhall and Fullwell.
The schemes follow on the heels of flood alleviation projects which have already helped temporarily store or divert 380,000 litres of rainwater away from the sewers, which tend to be overwhelmed during heavy weather.
That’s equal to 15,200 people each taking a five minute shower.
The risk of flash floods occurs more frequently with climate change, the council points out.
So the local authority has chalked up £11m over the next 10 years for schemes that help reduce flood risks by planting more trees and shrubs in streets and parks to absorb surface water.
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