THE Department for Education has awarded Essex County Council £150,000 to help schools at risk of flooding.

The council will add an additional £150,000 the fund. The £300,000 will provide five schools with Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS).

Five schools have been selected that are at at risk of surface water flooding. They are in:

Uttlesford
Rochford
Braintree
Loughton
Brentwood

The funding will see flood defence systems installed at each school. These will:

help prevent floods
provide accessible green spaces
opportunity to educate students on flood prevention
have mental wellbeing benefits.
The council will work with the schools and students throughout the design and build process.

The systems could also include:

sustainable planters
rain gardens
water butts
signage
play features.
Councillor Tom Cunningham, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Sustainable Transport, said: “I’m delighted that we have secured this funding.

“By complementing this funding from the Department for Education with our own Capital Flood Programme, we can deliver high quality change to those who need it most.”

Councillor Tony Ball, Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Life Long Learning and Employability said: “We recognise the importance of providing exceptional outdoor spaces for pupils.

“Through this investment, each school will be able to provide an outdoor space for its pupils. A space not just for the pupils to enjoy but to also learn from and be inspired by.”

Read more about how Essex County Council is working to improve the Essex environment here.