Villagers 'scared' flooding could strike again

People in a village which suffered severe flooding last year have said they fear their community could be hit again.

Great Glen was one of a number of locations in Leicestershire to suffer severe flooding in January 2025, prompting officials to declare a major incident across the county.

Cimi Kazazi, who runs The Italian Greyhound pub in the village, said residents were "scared" because they had not seen many tangible changes in response to last year's event.

Leicestershire County Council said it had carried out an investigation into the cause of the flooding and committed £2m to community grants.

Kazazi, who rescued a woman who was stranded in her car surrounded by floodwater, said he was still sceptical whether the county council's actions would make a difference.

"The scare is that with very little rain, we see a lot of damage, but if it rains for a day or a day and a half then we don't know where the water is going to go," he said.

"As far as I know they [the council] have done a little bit of work, but not a lot."

Kazazi's pub was also damaged in the flood, with water rising to waist height in the bar.

He said the damage has had a lasting impact, particularly financially, because of increased insurance costs.

Kazazi said he wanted the county council to explain and alleviate what caused the village to flood, for him to feel reassured.

The authority said it had provided this information, but the pub owner said he had not heard anything.

Heather MacDermid, who also lives in Great Glen, said she did not feel any safer than in 2025 because "nothing had really changed".

She was forced out of her home after it was extensively damaged last year and had to live in a bedsit for 10 months while it was repaired.

"The council's done a lot of dredging on the River Sence, but nothing else has changed," she said.

"You can't see the results yet until it floods again.

"I think we're all afraid that it will happen again, especially because of climate change."

The county council, which is the lead local flooding authority, said it had held drop-in events in affected areas, including Great Glen, to explain ongoing work.

Adam Tilbury, cabinet member for flooding, said investigations into the causes of flooding in affected areas had been produced, with "interim action plans" shared with communities.

He said: "£2m of money has been committed to go towards local community grants for small scale flood resilience work and further strengthen our comprehensive drain cleaning schedule.

"We are also continually lobbying the government to secure more money for projects that can reduce flood risk, like the one in Breedon on the Hill which is already making a difference."

Peter Scott, who represents Great Glen on Harborough District Council, also said a flood action group had been set up, and extra drains and gullies had been put in on London Road.

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