WORRIED residents who have suffered years of flooding misery are once again raising concerns due to current weather warnings over Storm Christoph.
People living in Longworth Road in Billington have been subjected to heavy flooding in recent years, notably on Boxing Day in 2015, and again in February 2020.
Due to Storm Christoph's potential to cause more devastation, and the Amber weather warnings issued by the Met Office, the Environment Agency, on Monday, readied flood barriers in the village.
However, despite their best efforts, residents say it's not enough, particularly as they're now faced with an extra challenge, in the form of a potential new housing development proposed for a major sewage site, which they say could cause more flooding problems if allowed to go ahead.
Sharon McEvoy, who has lived in Billington for 20 years, said villagers received a consultation letter through the post from property developers, Red Row, who are proposing to build 36 new homes at the end of Longworth Road.
Mrs McEvoy said: "This is not the best timing. We have pictures of this field, where they want to build the new homes, which has flooded on the last two occasions we've had really bad weather.
"We don't even know if these flood barriers will work because the village hasn't suffered such bad weather since they were put in.
"It might just be coincidence, but the day the flood barriers go up, we get a letter saying 36 new homes could be built on the field that normally floods.
"How are we in Longworth Road going to be protected if these homes get the go ahead??
"There'll be no grass to soak up the flood water.
"We're devastated - we are on eggshells as it is each time we get a flood warning, thinking our homes are going to flood yet again.
"Ribble Valley Borough Council and these property developers do not care about the residents of Longworth Road or the surrounding areas.
"We need people to comment on this consultation because we do not want to suffer any more flooding misery."
The proposals for 36 homes, including 10 affordable houses, at Neddy Lane in Billington, have been put forward by Red Row.
The overall housing mix is to comprise of two two-bedroom bungalows (affordable), a two storey apartment block comprising of four one-bedroom apartments and four two-bedroom apartments (all affordable), and 26 three and four bedroom houses (available for market sale).
Despite the local plan housing allocation covering a wider area to the north west of the site, the developers say the housing is sited 'so as to avoid the land most at risk from flooding and the drainage strategy for the site will ensure that the development will not increase the risk of flooding either on the site or elsewhere'.
Cllr Ged Mirfin who represents Whalley and Painter Wood on Ribble Valley Borough Council said: "People are right to be worried.
"We have been waiting for permanent flood defence measures to be put in place since Boxing Day 2015 when 130 homes in Whalley and Billington were badly flooded.
"Despite the hard work of the Whalley and Billington Flood Action Group who have carried out research and drawn up plans for defences nothing has been done.
"Much as we are all grateful for the alacrity with which the EA have responded in putting in place the demountable mobile flood defence barrier in front of Longworth Road, residents are nervous they are about to experience a repeat of early February last year.
"They are rightly asking themselves whether this will become an annual event.
"It is only when permanent flood defence measures are put in place they will be able to sleep safe in their beds when they see the River Calder rising.
"Until that occurs we will all continue to be a village of river watchers."
Residents are urged to comment on the planning proposals and have until February 1 in which to do so.
To have your say, visit: hiveland.co.uk/consultations/billington/
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