BE PREPARED! That's the advice of Canterbury City Council home owners at risk in the wake of last winter's drastic flooding in the district. The authority has issued the warning as part of a 50-point flood action plan which has just been published after months of investigation into the problems.

It is the result of the findings of the flooding scrutiny panel set up by the council to report on what measures were needed to help prevent a disaster on a similar scale in the future.

The action plan, which has been adopted by the council, revealed that 290 homes were flooded and only the supply of 35,000 sandbags to affected properties prevented many more. But the council has now reviewed its sandbag policy, as recommended by the panel, and local stores have been set up in flooding blackspot areas so they can be more quickly distributed.

The panel is also encouraging people to take their own precautions and loose bags are being supplied at cut price by the council to homeowners so they can have their own first line of defence.

With rainfall and groundwater levels now well above average and the winter rains to come, the signs are not looking good. But the action plan lists a raft of measures which have been done or are underway across to the district.

They include river diversion schemes, weedscreening, shingle clearance, and the weedcutting and dredging of rivers.

Flood scrutiny panel chairman, Cllr Harry Cragg, said a great deal of effort had gone into preparing the action plan and the group had heard representations from 110 individuals or organisations involved or affected.

He also praised the work of the council's engineering manager, Ted Edwards for compiling such a concise and readable report which will now be widely available.

But he accused Southern Water of not doing enough to solve drainage problems with the sewerage system where foul water had caused considerable distress for some homeowners.

He said: "They consider the current maintenance system is adequate and blame the failure on the exceptional rainfall. But problems with both the foul and surface water sewerage system are still occurring whenever there is heavy rain and the improvements must be made."

Cllr Cragg said property-owners with watercourses across their land must ensure they are clear of debris. He added: "Many individuals and groups have already taken action themselves with significant effect. It is our intention that this report and action plan is not put to one side and forgotten. Instead the council and its staff will continue its pro-active approach to try and reduce flooding."