The climate change action plan is expected to cost the borough £7million
Hounslow Council has approved a climate change resilience plan to protect the borough from extreme weather. The council has assessed that Hounslow is at “very high risk” of surface water flooding and heatwaves; at “high risk” of river flooding and wildfires; and “medium risk” of severe storms and drought.
The plan was developed under a scenario in which temperatures increase by two and four degrees celsius on average. The plan uses climate hazard data and social inequality metrics to highlight those most vulnerable – 71,000 residents across 34 areas.
There are eight priority actions outlined in the plan which will “make the most significant difference to reduce risk.” Approximately 50 per cent of the actions identified within the plan will be delivered through existing projects and planned capital investment.
These will cost approximately £1 million of which is already included in council budgets. However, the remaining half of the plan remains unfunded, with £6 million needed to carry out the proposals. The progression of these parts of the plan will be subject to council procedures.
The council will continue to chase external funding opportunities including securing Environment Agency and Thames Water funding for SuDS and other flood resilience programmes. Council documents state that “failure to improve resilience is very likely to result in increased repair, recovery and service disruption costs arising from future climate impacts.”
Speaking in cabinet on Tuesday, September 8, Councillor Salman Shaheen, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Public Realm said: “We want to do everything we can to prepare for the worst. This is a report that models all eventualities from two degrees of warming to four degrees of warming, and looks at those worst case scenarios…
“We are as a council doing everything we can to bring down our emissions and we are aiming to get to net-zero by 2030, but we have to recognise that’s just a drop in the ocean.
“We are just one small part to play in that wider drive to reach net-zero as a society, bring carbon emissions down across the world, and ultimately stop warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius, so some off these worst case scenarios that we see in this report don’t come to pass….
“We’re going to start preparing today and make sure that this borugh is ready for all eventualities.”
Cllr Amjer Grewal, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Safety, spoke “as a mum” and “a grandparent” in cabinet, saying: “I know how important it is that we take action now to adopt climate resilient measures that will protect and enhance our boroughs for generations to come.
“We want future generations to inherit a borough that is not only livable, but one where they can truly thrive.”
Hounslow’s climate action plan
- To strengthen drought resilience, the council will “improve preparedness in critical buildings and services”, promote water conservation and provide “targeted support” for vulnerable and high-risk groups during prolonged hot and dry periods
- The council says it will protect essential infrastructure through coordinated “drought-ready management”, helping to safeguard water supplies, public services, green spaces and community wellbeing during extreme weather
- Borough-wide resilience to extreme heat will be improved by strengthening heatwave planning, delivering accessible heat-safety communications, and ensuring residents (particularly vulnerable groups) can stay safe during periods of high temperatures
- Reduce overheating in buildings through targeted cooling, shading and ventilation measures in schools, social housing, corporate buildings and priority care facilities
- Increase community preparedness for surface water flooding through improved communication, awareness and practical guidance, including targeted support for residents in higher-risk communities
- Reduce flood risk in vulnerable locations by delivering sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and green infrastructure projects
- Support long-term flood defence planning and investment by aligning with Thames Estuary 2100 and riverside strategies, while reviewing and prioritising local tidal defence assets for maintenance and future upgrades
- Reduce wildfire risk through coordinated planning and land management by integrating parks and natural spaces into heat and wildfire strategies and aligning borough-wide actions with emergency response partners.
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