Sandbag protocol

Our overall policy is to make sandbags available to where they can do the most good for a community rather than meeting individual demands. 

 

 

There is no statutory requirement for the council to provide sandbags although there is a broad expectation in the mind of the general public that, in a period of likely flooding, the local council will make sandbags available. This is not the case. 

 

 

We have only a limited supply of sandbags and can only give them to the homes at greatest risks. They will only be issued to homes that are in danger of being flooded by river or watercourse flooding. Householders and landlords must take responsibility themselves for the protection of their property.

 

Our first priority will be to support and assist the vulnerable in our community and safeguard essential community buildings and highways as appropriate.  

 

Requests for sandbags from members of the public will only be considered when occupied residential properties are in imminent danger of flooding. Sandbags will not be provided for protecting gardens, outbuildings or other structures.

 

These requests may be subject to risk assessment, to assess the priority of need and the risk associated with flooding. Sandbags will be provided free of charge during flooding emergencies, subject to the availability of resources.

 

 

Commercial premises are responsible for carrying out their own risk assessments for flooding and for ordering their own supplies of sandbags. In exceptional circumstances, sandbags may be provided but this would be an operational decision and should not be allowed to be used as a precedent.

Subject to an assessment of need, we will, whenever and wherever possible, deliver sandbags to persons with justified requests for them. Where sandbags are provided, they become the absolute responsibility of the person or council receiving them. We will accept no liability for positioning them or any subsequent repositioning, nor will we be responsible for collecting and disposing of sandbags after the flooding.

 

 

If you need sandbags to protect your premises, you can contact a building supplier listed in a commercial telephone directory or by doing a search on the internet. 

 

Sandbags can be purchased from most local builders merchants, however, please be aware that some builders merchants consider sandbags a seasonal item and they may not always be available.