PEOPLE in Ludlow are being urged to come together before it is too late to construct a plan to cope with the flood threat to the town.

A public meeting has been called to galvanise an action plan and improve awareness of the threat especially to low lying part of the town.

It is almost a decade since mayor flooding devastated parts of Ludlow washing away a bridge and a house. Now the fear is that as time passes memories fade along with awareness of the dangers.

Organised by Friends of the Corve and Teme – Ludlow’s Flood Action Group – the meeting will provide an opportunity for residents to outline their previous flooding experiences and express their concerns for the future.

“We are not saying that a flood is imminent”, said Rosemary Wood, chairman of the newly-formed community group.

“But extreme rainfall is predicted to become more frequent and severe and measures can be taken that improve traditional flood defences and reduce the impact on the community should a flood occur.”

Friends of the Corve and Teme are working in partnership with local groups and government agencies, and the public meeting will be chaired by Thomasin Sayers, community flood resilience officer with the National Flood Forum.

Points made during the evening will be noted and Thomasin Sayers will arrange a further meeting between Friends of the Corve and Teme and representatives of all the relevant flood agencies.

This will form the basis of Ludlow’s Flood Action Plan.

Membership is free and open to anyone with an interest in combating flooding in Ludlow.

The group was founded in June and will monitor both the Rivers Corve and Teme as well as investigate ideas for flood prevention and damage limitation.

It will also work with agencies like the Environment Agency and landowners as well as making people in vulnerable parts of the town aware of the risks.

A ‘Friends’ website is under construction, www.f-c-t.org.uk, and anyone wishing to know more about the Friends of the Corve and Teme – Ludlow’s Flood Action and River Environment Group, should contact Rosemary Wood on 01584 875438 or email rosemary.wood3@gmail.com

The public meeting is on Thursday, September 22 at 7.30pm in the Queen Elizabeth Room at The Feathers Hotel in Ludlow.