Many residents on the Avondale estate in Ash Vale have suffered from repeated flooding, and in May 2019 Michael wrote to SSE in wholehearted support of the application submitted by the 6th Avondale Residents Association for a resilience grant.

Such a grant will enable the installation of a flood-defence wall, and Michael has asked SSE to look favourably upon the Association’s application.

In October 2019, Michael chaired a meeting between local residents and representatives from Network Rail, the Environment Agency and Surrey County Council concerning the future maintenance of the ditches alongside the railway line next to the estate.

In February 2020, Michael wrote to Network Rail to ask for an update following the meeting last October, and he received the following information on 25 March 2020:

‘Here’s the latest information about the Avondale estate.

We conducted a site visit on Wednesday 18th March, with the vegetation contractor and local maintenance team in attendance. The local maintenance unit has now instructed the vegetation contractor to carry out works. This was pencilled in for the first two weeks of April.  

However in view of current events, dates will now change – as of midnight tonight, only safety critical work will be undertaken until further notice. This is in order to protect Network Rail staff and contractors and to focus on ensuring that we keep the railway operational for key workers.

It was observed on site that levels in the ditch and surrounding streams had dropped significantly (see attached video) – therefore meaning the flood risk at this stage has lowered.

We will be back in touch when works are re-planned.’