FURIOUS Halesowen residents whose homes were devastated by last year’s floods are demanding action from Dudley Council.

The damage and destruction sustained in the flood is still fresh in the mind of many residents who confronted councillors at the Halesowen Area Committee meeting last Wednesday, September 2.

Grange Crescent resident and flood victim Jan Kalinski said: “Nothing has been done and nothing is being done to help us and I want to know what you (the councillors) are going to do.”

And the Halesowen Flood Management Committee chairman Katharine Baker-Scully laid into the elected representatives.

She said: “The impact of these floods on this area has been awful on the residents of this area.

“And there has been a total lack of support from the Halesowen South Councillors (David Vickers, John Woodhall and Alan Taylor).

She added: “You have not honoured us, you have not supported is and no-one came to our meetings.

“And we have been perturbed at the lack of support of Dudley Council.

“The Environment Agency have been with us every step of the way but the councillors do not even bother turning up to our meetings.”

Her comments drew applause from the audience but infuriated the councillors who claimed they had not been invited to the flood management committee meetings.

Hayley Green Cllr Ken Turner said: “I am offended and insulted by your comments.

“I have friends who were flooded and I was there to offer support and advice.”

And Halesowen South Cllr Alan Taylor said: “We gave as much help as we could and we attended your inaugural meetings and would have attended more had I been invited.

“We have been doing a lot of pushing and things in the background.”

Fellow Halesowen South Cllr David Vickers said: “I couldn’t attend some of the meetings due to council commitments however, I am now on the West Midlands Flood Committee.

“And I will be there next week bidding for cash for Halesowen South and will be fighting the good fight on behalf of the residents.”