ENVIRONMENT chiefs are stepping up flood warnings for at-risk parts of Durham City.

The Environment Agency (EA) says 263 properties in Durham are at risk of flooding from the River Wear, which snakes through the city.

One recent major flood was in July 2009, when riverside areas and Shincliffe were affected.

Agency bosses are introducing a new improved service for low-lying, at-risk areas, meaning householders will get earlier flood warnings.

By contrast, householders living on higher ground will only receive a warning if the River Wear continues to rise. EA officials hope this will reduce the number of false alarms.

An information session, hosted by the EA and the Durham and Darlington Civil Contingencies Unit, is to be held in Durham Town Hall, on Durham Market Place, on Monday, September 24, from 2pm to 7pm. EA officials will be present to answer residents’ questions.

Jared Piredda, an EA flood officer, said: “We have changed the four warning areas of Durham so the people at greatest risk of flooding receive a warning first, giving them time to take the appropriate action.
“People living on slightly higher ground will only receive a warning if the river continues to rise, so reducing the number of false alarms.
“We’d like to meet people living in Durham to explain how the warning service has improved and to inform residents how they can join the service and what they can do to prepare themselves for flooding.”

He added: “In August we worked with our partners to hit the streets and give information to Durham residents about flooding.
“We hope that local people come along to the drop-in to find out more about the new service we’re providing.”

Flood warnings from the EA are available free and can be sent to a telephone, mobile phone, fax, pager or by text message or email. If a flood warning is issued, an automatic message is sent. The EA aims to give two hours’ notice day or night in areas of particular risk.

For more information, call the Floodline on 0845-9881188 or visit environment-agency.gov.uk