"BATTLE FOR WALHAM" - LET'S SHARE THE LESSONS

Published on Thu 23rd Aug 2007

Liberal Democrats on the County Council say the Government must take on board the lessons learnt from the "Battle for Walham".

Liberal Democrat group leader, Cllr Jeremy Hilton, visited the recently flooded Walham Power Station this week to appreciate the scale of the recent crisis as well as the efforts made by the Emergency Services and the staff of the National Grid.

Cllr Hilton heard how quickly the Power Station and its staff adapted to the crisis, and he is now calling for action to ensure that lessons learnt in Gloucestershire are not lost on the rest of the country.

Cllr Hilton said:

"Having been to Walham Power Station and having met the staff there I can see that extremely valuable lessons were learnt during the recent flooding. The measures taken to keep out the water and provide temporary protection for the Power Station were exemplary, and the new semi-permanent wall protecting the site is an essential addition to its security. The Government should consider making similar improvements to other vital facilities around the country. There has also been a vital reassessment of the risks faced by Walham in the long term future.

"I would call upon the Government and particularly Malcolm Wicks, the Minister for Energy, to reassess power supply in places like Gloucestershire where the entire population depends upon one National Grid switching centre for its electricity. Whether in Gloucestershire or elsewhere, if a crisis like this should ever happen again it is essential that alternative back-up supplies are available."

Cllr Hilton added:

"The professionalism of Military, Emergency Services and National Grid staff can't be praised enough. The Power Station is a high risk environment where cables conducting up to 400,000 volts can cause fatalities to anyone who strays within six feet of them. That 200 personnel were able to carry out emergency measures in these conditions during the night proves the incredible skill and dedication of these men and women. The co-operation achieved between different services in such a short space of time was remarkable, and serves as an example for anyone handling future emergencies of this kind."

The Liberal Democrat group on Gloucestershire County Council will be submitting their views as evidence to the Parliamentary inquiry into the flooding.