'Flood defences will be great when they arrive'

Business owners in a Surrey town hit by flooding say they welcome plans to protect their properties, but will wait to see what the end results are.

A motion backing the Guildford Flood Alleviation Scheme (GFAS) was approved by borough councillors on 7 April.

The motion commits the council to back the plans, which include building new flood defences to safeguard businesses and properties near the River Wey, as well as seeking further support from government.

Mabs Khan, general manager of the White Horse pub, said: "The last time [the water] didn't get into the property, but it got into the garden and we had barrels floating around."

Khan said: "In 2014 we had to have a massive refurbishment afterwards when it got into the pub.

"It will he great to see what the end result is. There have been promises in the past but we need to find out what the actual results are."

Guildford has been subjected to a series of major floods, most notably in 1968, 2000 and in 2013-2014.

Experts say climate change is increasing the likelihood of another serious flood if nothing is done, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

John Etherington, from the Guildford Baptist Church in Millmead, said the flooding had not affected the church but had "certainly affected" members of the congregation.

He said: "For the businesses, if they could guarantee that people can get into the car park, they will be pleased about that.

"Some of our elderly members of the church will be happy to not have to worry about flood water."

The GFAS aims to help keep Guildford open for business during flood events, improve riverside environments, and support regeneration in areas currently at risk, all while protecting the town for years to come.

The motion commits the council to formally endorse GFAS, push the government to prioritise funding for the business case, and seek support for the project in Parliament.

Additional reporting from the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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