In the Loop

Well, after the ‘all agency’ walk back in June ‘we, like you‘ trust the Environment Agency ‘cavalry’ are not far off arriving in Syston, their de-silting machinery (whatever that looks like) will be a most welcome sight, neglect got Syston in this mess (not climate change), but remember to be ‘kind’ when the EA do arrive (and take lots of pictures – we sure will)! 
Once the EA (likely sub contractors) has done its work in the brook itself (under its permissive powers) what’s left in places along the bank will need to be looked at, (those that own land next to a watercourse own its banks and to the centre, they are riparian owners who have responsibilities) machinery cannot remove vegetation (the green bits) from the concrete sides, and there’s no money to do everything that’s needed by hand, that’s not what the EA do, never have, likely never will!   
From the main car park, through Central Park down to Memorial Park is predominantly non residential, it’ll be interesting to finally see the ‘riparian owners out and about‘, shame its taking so long to have a tidy up, the history of Syston being rewritten, who knows, and it was so disappointing to see our ‘Town Council representative’ leaving the ‘all agency’ walk about (in June) at the mid way point (car park) before rejoining near the end. Staying together was the perfect time to discuss areas of responsibility whilst with the EA, a missed opportunity, maybe?  By the time this is in print let’s hope who owns, does what, and when along the brook is resolved for the ‘benefit of Syston’. 
We agree with the comments made that the floral displays along the railings of the brook looked pretty during our brief summer, but did anyone look at the nearby overgrown, neglected shrubs (to councils and their councillors reading this, please do something to improve the look of central Syston, not such a bad idea now is it) and thank you to those residents who’ve had a go to improve that area. When your next taking a stroll by the brook or by the car park, look over to those huge trees which tower next to residents homes, a Health & Safety red flag surely (the residents of Brookside didn’t plant the trees nor did they hang and permanently fix those Christmas lights, they belong to somebody. (Questions, but not so many answers!). 
In the coming months SCFG would like help with a belated spring clean here and there, if anyone is able to help in any small way, or if you’ve a machine that does all the hard work whilst we watch with a cuppa and a bacon butty ? please contact systonfloodgroup@gmail.com we’d love to hear from you, and a special thanks goes to our local Civil Engineer for getting in touch via SCFG recently, your knowledge is outstanding, your ongoing help is appreciated, also a thank you to your assistant, you know who you are.  
Finally, over the next months (for as long as it takes) the Syston Community Flood Group will be in touch with LCC , CBC and the EA, (the ‘Risk Management Authorities’) the lead person will be providing us with updates so that we can share with residents, we want to ensure that Syston is not forgotten, and that the work which is in addition to the major de-silt through the centre gets done, so that residents (and visitors) can all look at a wider, cleaner, safer Barkby Brook and actually live and shop in a ‘much happier Syston’.  
M & K  (Concerned Residents)