FloodSax alternative sandbags at forefront of Leicestershire County Council’s campaign to reduce flood damage

FloodSax alternative sandbags are at the forefront of a major flood campaign by Leicestershire County Council.

The forward-thinking council has been busy preparing for flooding this autumn and winter so used part of a grant to buy and distribute the world-famous FloodSax ‘sandless sandbags’ to its local, district and parish councils to ensure as many people are protected from flooding as possible.

The FloodSax even feature prominently on the front page of the council’s autumn edition of its magazine, Leicestershire Matters.

Last winter was the wettest on record in Leicestershire so the county council has worked with communities throughout 2026 to help them prepare for any future flooding. It means communities are already taking action to become more resilient through a £400,000 community grant scheme of equipment being given to local areas.

The council states: “Innovative sandbag alternatives, which can be stored easier and inflate and stack like sandbags, have been purchased with the money, alongside temporary flood barriers which are put out to prevent floodwater reaching local areas. This equipment has been given out to parish councils to distribute to their communities.’’

Councillor Adam Tilbury, cabinet member for flooding, said: “We have spent the year working hard to give communities the equipment that can help to reduce flood risk.

“It’s not a case of if but when flooding will happen in some areas of the county. Being prepared and thinking about it earlier can really help you recover and get back to normal more quickly.

“There’s always more to do and we’re committed to helping, but we encourage everyone to check the flood risk in their area and take whatever steps are needed to be prepared. Flooding can happen at any time.”

Yorkshire-based Environmental Defence Systems Ltd, which invented and manufactures FloodSax, did a major demonstration at Leicestershire County Council for representatives from the district and parish councils so they could see a FloodSax in action and learn how simple it is to use these alternative sandbags themselves.

FloodSax are unique as they are the only alternative sandbag in the world that works both indoors and outside.

In their dry state FloodSax are super-absorbent yet thin with a large surface area so are highly effective at soaking up drips, leaks, spills and floods inside homes and businesses, especially in hard-to-reach places such as beneath pipes, radiators, sinks and boilers. They also soak up floodwater dripping in through leaky roofs and windows.

They are transformed into tough and robust sandless sandbags when they are immersed in water which the gelling polymer inside absorbs and retains in around five minutes so they weigh around 20kg.

Environmental Defence Systems Ltd (EDS) is now keen to do demonstrations across the UK for councils, NHS trusts, flood action groups and large businesses.

If organisations aren’t able to accommodate a demonstration but would like to see and test FloodSax for themselves then EDS can send out a free pack of 5.

To organise a free demonstration simply email EDS PR and marketing manager Andy Hirst at andy@edslimited.co.uk or phone 07985 654822.

For more information on how FloodSax work both inside and outside go to www.floodsax.co.uk