Residents urged to be flood prepared over the winter season
Wigan Borough residents are being urged to plan ahead and remind themselves of flooding advice.
Adverse weather has impacted a number of communities across the borough in recent years, including the aftermath of heavy rain on New Year’s Day 2025.
Wigan Council – along with its partner agencies – is therefore encouraging residents to sign up to flood alert systems and read the guidance available, to be best prepared.
An extensive outline of support and guidance is available from the council’s website, covering what to do before, during and after a flooding incident.
Meanwhile, further practical advice can be found from organisations such as The Flood Hub or from the Environment Agency and central government websites. Residents and businesses can sign up to receive flood alerts (external link).
Councillor Paul Prescott, portfolio holder for planning, environmental services and transport, said: “We recognise the immense difficulties that residents across our borough faced with flooding at the start of the year, and we are also aware that many may continue to feel anxious in times of adverse weather.
“This is why the council has ensured that the relevant advice and guidance is easily accessible for those concerned about flooding, and our teams have been working hard to improve communications with residents and partner agencies to share information, provide support and guidance, and bring our communities closer together.”
Throughout this year, organisations across Wigan Borough have been working toward mitigating flooding risks.
While collaborative work was already carried out between the council and partners such as the Environment Agency (EA), United Utilities (UU), local MPs, and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), this co-operation has accelerated following the New Year’s Day flooding.
Council teams have worked with the borough’s worst hit communities to create five new Community Flood Action Groups, aiming to improve communication networks and helping everyone work together to boost community resilience.
Some of the proactive measures to have taken place over the past year have been to remove vegetation and potential blockages in the local water network, while also clearing tree root intrusion and installing flap valves in highway drains.
In Leigh, flood calming measures have been installed on Elmridge to redirect overland flow from Lilford Park, and a new natural flood management system is in place to slow the flow reaching Lilford Basin.
Elsewhere, two water pump tankers have been procured by the council and funding has been secured by the GMCA for two temporary pumps for residents in Bickershaw.
To improve long-term defences, work is set to be carried out on the brook at Low Hall Nature reserve in Platt Bridge, which will include de-silting and restoring the original flow of the brook, while investigations will continue into other flooding hotspots.
For flooding advice and support, visit the Wigan Council website, the Flood Hub (external website), and the government’s website (external link).
