Wigan Council has launched a new public flood reporting system that allows residents to submit live, geo-located flood reports, giving the council real-time visibility during severe weather and improving how the
borough responds to, recovers from and plans for future flood events.
The new approach, shortlisted in 2025 for the Department for Transport’s Special Recognition Award for Best Use of Technology, was co-designed by Wigan Council, KaarbonTech and Hello Lamp Post following the severe New Year flooding, which displaced nearly 1,000 residents and placed significant pressure on the local road network and services.
During the event, teams were unable to reach every affected area, highlighting the need for a better way to understand the real community impact of flooding as it happens.
Laura Morrison, Flood Risk Engineering Manager at Wigan Council, said:
“This tool puts residents at the heart of our flood response. It gives us visibility we simply didn’t have before, and it helps us protect vulnerable communities more effectively. I’m most proud that we’ve turned a moment of crisis into a lasting solution that empowers residents and strengthens our resilience for the future.”
The system effectively creates a network of real-time community insight, giving the Council a far clearer understanding of how flooding impacts neighbourhoods as events unfold.
Residents can now report flooding instantly, upload photographs and receive guidance. Each report feeds directly into the council’s operational systems, helping flood and highways teams prioritise response, gather evidence for statutory Section 19 reports and support longer-term planning and investment.
Conor Holgate, representing KaarbonTech, added:
“This project shows how community observations can become real operational insight. During major storms, councils cannot be everywhere at once, but residents can. Bringing those reports directly into the council’s
live systems gives a much clearer picture of what is happening on the ground.”
The initiative has already gained national recognition, being shortlisted The Council will now look to share what has been learned with other local authorities exploring similar approaches to community-led flood reporting and resilience planning, supporting wider adoption of more connected and community-informed flood risk management.
(Picture: KaarbonTech)
