A BRADFORD Council officer has won a national award recognising her work creating a more sustainable district.

Saira Ali has been award a Rising Star of the SuDs World Award for her work in flood prevention.

SuDs are Sustainable Drainage systems aiming to slow the rate storm water enters the drainage network to prevent flooding in urban areas.

Ms Ali, team leader in the Council’s landscape, design and conservation team has pushed SuDs in a number of schemes in Bradford leading to her receiving the inaugural Rising Star prize.

Forms of SuDs include diverting water, creating ponds, wetlands and rain gardens, and other natural solutions in built areas.

Her projects include one at Horton Park supporting nature conservation, and in North Street, Keighley, promoting biodiversity.

She also secured funding for upcoming projects at the top of town, in West Bradford, along Bradford Beck and at Shipley Fields.

Ms Ali said: “I’d like to thank everyone who has helped me in all the projects we work on.

“I really have the privilege of working with some amazing talented people, my team, our partners and our community who push us to be more ambitious, innovative and helped us to deliver some good work in Bradford."

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, said: “This is fantastic news, very well deserved and I am thrilled for Saira.

"Saira is making a vital contribution to building a cleaner, more sustainable district which will be more resilient to climate change. I hope Saira’s success will inspire others.”

Bradford Council is also running a number of projects to address climate change, including planting 55,000 trees over the next two years, one for every primary school child in the district, improving natural flood management including on Ilkley Moor by creating ditches and dams and creating peat bogs, becoming net carbon zero by 2038 and working to a sustainable development plan for a greener economy.