Property Flood Resilience (PFR) measures installed in the Beacon Heights area of Newark by Nottinghamshire County Council in partnership with Severn Trent Water and Whitehouse Construction Ltd

Multi-thousand-pound work has taken place on a Newark estate to help reduce the risk of floodwater entering the homes.

Property Flood Resilience (PFR) measures have been installed at two bungalows in the Beacon Heights area, where internal flooding has occurred for several years following heavy rainfall.

The £75,000 project has been led by the lead local flood authority, Nottinghamshire County Council – in partnership with Severn Trent Water and Whitehouse Construction Ltd – and saw the installation of flood-resilient doors and an external pump, as well as the sealing of brickwork.

Linda Williams, whose elderly father John Hunt’s home is one of the two bungalows to receive PFR work, said the installations will now give him ‘peace of mind’.

She said: “We now no longer feel as anxious when it rains heavily. We also feel reassured that we have got the support network around us and people who can help who are only a phone call or email away.

“We are very thankful to Nottinghamshire County Council, Severn Trent Water and Whitehouse for everything they have done, it really is much appreciated.

“When my dad was flooded before, someone came to see him the next day and talked us all through what could be done.

“The support network has been brilliant, and everyone cares and it’s so sincere – it’s like a personal touch for which we are really grateful.”

County Councillor for for Newark East and council leader Sam Smith visited Mr Hunt’s bungalow to see how the flood resilient measures he had helped secure are now protecting the properties.

He said: “Flooding has been a devastating and traumatic experience for John and his family, so I am delighted that working with our partners his home now benefits from a package of measures to protect it.

“He now has peace of mind because of the work which has been carried out to his bungalow and I would like to thank our Flood Risk Management Team for providing him with such fantastic support – which forms part of a wider effort to achieve flood resilient communities in Nottinghamshire.

“As a council, we recognise that there are properties across the county like this and therefore we have developed an approach with our partners to make sure those vulnerable to flooding can be protected.

“We know that flooding devastates communities, and that is why we are committed to delivering solutions to protect vulnerable residents like John and their homes.”

A third property in the Beacon Heights area of Newark will also benefit from PFR measures in the coming months.

To date, 282 properties have been protected in the last four years by the PFR programme — with a further 50 in progress.