View Comments (1) Policy ENV4 - Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS)
Quote from this section: "All residential development over 10 units will be required to incorporate runoff control via SUDS to ensure runoff and infiltration rates do not increase the likelihood of flooding".
I am not sure that this statement is accurate. Priory Chase estate (86 dwellings, school, sports centre and supermarket) and built overthe last 3 years, adjoins Rawreth Lane has created a flood risk to houses in the Lane. Water is collected by a SUDS system but the Hydrabrake release system is of too high capacity. The site developers, with the approval of RDC officers, have carried out alterations to the main run-off ditch and twice this year it was within a couple of inches of overflowing. On the second occasion, RDC rapidly issued sand bags to adjacent dwellings and by doing this, by default, they were admitting it is a flood risk. The only reason the ditch did not flood over was that the rain ceased. Despite promises that the situation would be rectified, nothing has been done. Currently the local Member of Parliament is perseuing the situation.
RDC make these open ended statements in the document but in truth they do not reflect failure of actual systems they have approved in the recent past.
How do we ensure that future developments will meet the SUDS standards?