Suffolk County Council to investigate impact of Storm Babet floods

By Ben Parker BBC News, Suffolk

Richard Stanford

Large areas of Suffolk were severely flooded, including Needham Market

More than 60 incidents of flooding in Suffolk during Storm Babet are to be investigated by the county council.

October's storm saw 800 homes and businesses flooded and there was major travel disruption in places including Framlingham and Needham Market.

The investigation aimed to find out why the flooding was so damaging and to identify future risks.

It was expected to cost the authority nearly £1m and the studies were expected to take 18 months to complete.

Suffolk County Council said it routinely investigated flooding when more than five properties were flooded in one place, a property was flooded multiple times or when an important road was affected.

The authority said this usually happened "two to three" times a year, but it was expecting its estimated number of 60 incidents to end up being much higher.

Emergency reserves have been used to fund the investigations.

Staff from other departments that do not normally deal with flooding, such as planning, have been moved over to help with the workload.

Essex County Council has offered to help, and "further external support" would be needed according to Suffolk County Council.

The Suffolk Joint Emergency Planning Unit will be carrying out a review into the response to Storm Babet.