Charnwood Borough Council - Leading in Leicestershire

Routine Control and Maintenance

The Council as an Operating Authority has powers, which it exercises, under the Land Drainage Act 1991 to mitigate the effect of flood flows on ordinary watercourses by undertaking maintenance and improvement works, but generally it is not responsible for the maintenance of banks.

The Council has also introduced Land Drainage Byelaws, which pertain to all ordinary watercourses in the Council's operating area for the purpose of preventing flooding, remedying or mitigating any damage caused by flooding

Routine maintenance and upkeep of watercourses is the responsibility of riparian owners. For some district watercourses, this means Charnwood Borough Council.

To maintain our watercourses, we use the Councils Engineering Services to clear, dredge and maintain the banks in important areas.

The Councils Engineering Services routinely clears grillages, which protect piped watercourses or culverts, to make sure they do not get blocked and cause flooding.

The Environment Agency manages and polices the main rivers, also undertaking its own clearance and maintenance activities.

The Councils byelaws allows officers to enforce the maintenance of watercourses.