March 2 2016.

Following the highly successful community engagement evening on the Seahaven Flood Plan in January, the Seahaven Community Flood Fair is to be held on Saturday the 23rd of April between 10.00am and 4.00pm at the Seaford Head School, Steyne Road, Seaford.

The Flood Fair, organised by Seaford and Newhaven Town Councils in partnership with East Sussex County Council and Lewes District Council, will provide information and practical advice to residents at risk of flooding in Newhaven and Seaford and the surrounding areas, but is open to all who may be directly or indirectly affected by flooding, or would like to find out how they could help if flooding occurs.

Visitors will be able to learn more about the flood risk from the Environment Agency, together with ways they can protect themselves and their property. They can also find out about the Seahaven Flood Plan from Lewes DC and how local authorities and emergency services respond to the threat of flooding and the important role that voluntary and community organisations play.

A highlight of the Fair will be the presence of the National Flood Forum, who will be providing advice on many flood related matters including resilience, resistance and recovery.  
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December was one of the wettest months on record in the UK and the importance of flood defences, practical action plans and building community resilience through such measures as the formation of local community flood action groups has never been more important.

Cllr. Sam Adeniji from Seaford Town Council said: “There have been incidences of flooding in Seaford over the past months and through this Fair we want to reassure people that the council is doing all it can, together with its partners, to ensure that there is effective planning for the flooding threat, but also to encourage householders at risk to look at ways they can improve their own resilience and be prepared. We recognise that flooding will not just affect those flooded, but also the wider community, so the full support of the community will go a long way to ensuring a faster and more effective recovery for those flooded and the town as a whole.”

Councillor Steve Saunders Mayor of Newhaven said: “Our residents on both sides of the river have had to deal with the impacts of flooding in recent years, so I would urge them, and all who have an interest in flooding matters, to come along and find out more about how to be prepared and protect themselves during times of flooding. I am particularly delighted to welcome the National Flood Forum at the Seahaven Community Flood Fair. They will be able to provide much valued advice to our residents at risk and to exhibit the latest in flood protection equipment.”

The National Flood Forum is a national charity dedicated to supporting and representing communities and individuals at risk of flooding. It helps people to prepare for flooding, helps them to recover their lives if they have been flooded, and provides advice and support on all flood risk issues. It works to ensure that flood risk issues are understood and addressed by the government, its agencies and other national organisations, to ensure that they develop a community perspective.