A FLOOD monitoring system that alerts a local community of increased flood risk has been given a boost by the River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region.

The University of Chester is already working with residents of Aston Ingham to use advanced wireless technologies to monitor water levels in surrounding brooks and to raise alerts to the risk of flooding.

The project has funded that installation and connection of an additional sensor, using specialist technology, to be linked into the system which allows local people access to a data dashboard where they can assess the flooding risk and take appropriate action to protect their community.

Aston Ingham is no stranger to flooding as it has suffered from its effects on a regular basis. But it was the flooding on December 23, 2020, which was the catalyst for community action.

The disgruntled residents formed the Aston Ingham Flood Action Group, which believes that the surface water field run off that drains into three main streams towards the village often results in flooding under specific conditions.

But after two years of fighting bureaucracy and little progress, the volunteers feeling deflated and considered the only option open to them was to give up.

However, a research trip to the Flood Expo at Birmingham’s NEC proved to be beneficial as members spoke with Dr Namrata Bhattacharya-mis, senior lecturer and programme leader in natural hazard management at the University of Chester.

She took on the village’s campaign and last week she said that the new project provides 24/7 local water level monitoring and enables email, WhatsApp and text notifications to subscribed users to alert them to emerging flood risk.

“It was important to scale up the project since the existing sensors were not sufficient to provide greater understanding of the wider catchment and we are pleased to have won the support of the River Severn Partnership for this,” she said.

“I must also insist the importance of active community engagement here, which took the effectiveness and impact of the project to a greater height.”

Maggie Pettit, from the Aston Ingham Flood Forum, said: “The offer of localised flood alerts to the local community is a significant improvement and one which subscriber will value - forewarned is forearmed.”

Matt Smith, project manager, added: “This is an excellent example of wireless technology being installed in a natural environment and bringing the maximum benefit to local communities.

“It is hard living with flood risk and this system helps people make informed decisions in good time and will hopefully help people stay protected.”

The River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region has been awarded £4m of funding from the Department of Science, Industry and Technology, to support the growth of wireless innovation and technology in its key economic sectors.

The Partnership comprises the eight English and Welsh councils that cover the River Severn catchment area.

The River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region will focus on accelerating the adoption of advanced wireless enabled technologies across sectors which have particularly strong roots in the River Severn catchment area.