CREDITON residents and the Crediton Courier have so far provided a wealth of information about flooding vulnerabilities around the town as part of a community project being led by the University of Exeter, and now researchers are calling for more people to get involved.

Flooding effectively cuts off Crediton when the Rivers Yeo and Creedy burst their banks and the project needs residents to provide evidence about specific places that flood, offer their views about the causes and suggest ideas about what can be done to prevent future flooding.

The Crediton Flood Resilience Group, comprising University of Exeter researchers, Crediton residents, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and Devon County Council, was created in February 2015.

The group has used information gathered from residents and from local archives, including those compiled by the Crediton Courier to identify key areas, roads and properties which are vulnerable to flooding within and beyond the town.

As heavy rainfall events are expected to become more intense in the coming decades, the group wants to put in place a viable flood resilience plan for the area, which recognises that in future the risks to property and infrastructure may be associated with surface water and flash floods.

To take part in the survey online please visit the project blog: http://blogs.exeter.ac.uk/creditonfloods/ .

People’s memories and photographs of flooding incidents would be welcomed.

The group will use the information provided to develop a flooding area map that will form part of a community research event, to be hosted by the Crediton Community Bookshop, on Wednesday, September 23, from 5pm to 7pm.

Everyone is welcome to go along and learn about the group’s work, share their views, and help work with agencies like Devon County Council and the Fire Service to reduce the risks of flooding in the area.

Alan Quick