Worcester is to ask for more flood prevention and recovery support from the government.
City councillors said more funding is needed to deal with the aftermath of floods as they become “more frequent and more severe”.
Members said the level of financial support currently on offer from the government is “not adequate” and that “sometimes no funding is made available at all”.
Karen Lewing, chair of Worcester City Council’s environment committee, raised the issue at a full council meeting on Tuesday (February 20).
“The River Severn runs through the heart of our city and is much loved by all of us who live and work here.
“But when it floods across the open spaces that form its flood plain including Pitchcroft, the county cricket ground, the council car parks, play areas, parks and roads, it makes our lives at best inconvenient and it can have a devastating impact on homes, families and businesses.
“It’s a stark fact that floods are increasing in frequency and intensity, so much so that in the last 20 years we’ve had as many floods as in the previous 100.”
Cllr Lewing said up to £25,000 in revenue is lost each time a council car park is closed because of flooding.
The clean-up operation drags council officers away from their usual tasks, as well as costing a lot of money.
She suggested the council write to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to ask for a guaranteed level of flood recovery funding for Worcester.
Cllr Lewing also wants to ask DEFRA to “implement natural flood management techniques” along the length of the River Severn so rainwater can be absorbed rather than flow out to sea.
And she wants the council to work with other places affected by flooding along the river, including Shrewsbury, Bewdley and Tewkesbury.
Cllr Richard Udall said other rivers and streams such as the River Teme and Laugherne Brook also cause flooding in Worcester, and called for more debate on the matter by the environment committee.
Cllr Jessie Jagger said the issue of sewage in the river should be considered alongside any debate on flooding.