I The Rawreth Parish is classified as having a high probability of flood. Our community knows what is like to have its homes flooded and to live under the constant worry of the continuing threat of further flooding.

Ii Flood risk has been increased to an unacceptable level in recent years as a consequence of large scale building, road and other projects feeding run off water into channels which flow through the village and we have not been able to find any evidence that flood risk calculations were made.

Iii The flood risks of these projects - individually and perhaps more importantly cumulately - have not been appropriately assessed and acted upon by Rochford District Council, Councils in other surrounding districts, Essex County Council or the Environment Agency. The precautions that have been taken to manage run off are inadequate or simply don't work, like the holding lagoons for surface water on the new A130 road venting directly into the river. Local Authorities, the EA and developers have caused and are exacerbating our problems and there is an urgent need to address the risks that their past actions have created before any new projects are agreed.

Iv We are deeply concerned as a community that the already high risk of flooding would be greatly further increased to a potentially critical level if a proposed new development of 550 houses on green belt land in the vicinity of Rawreth Lane, Rayleigh. The development would take place on land in Zone 2, but the run off water would be directed into Zone 3, where we live, with the likelihood of causing further flooding in our village. We understand that part of any planning application is evidence that existing properties are not put at risk by the project.

V There is no evidence that the flood risks of the proposed new development have been appropriately assessed, although Rochford District Council are aware of the dangers having previously given assurances to residents when approving other projects that this land would not be built on. It also provides a buffer zone between Rayleigh and Rawreth. Moreover, the scale, density etc of the proposed development reflects planning guidelines established under the previous administration. The new Secretary of State for Communities was highly critical of these guidelines are indeed took action almost immediately after taking office to sweep them away. Nevertheless, despite the fact that the development doesn't comply with current planning guidelines and the failure to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the additional flood risk it would present, it seems Rochford District Council are intent on approving the plan.

Would they then be responsible/liable for any damage caused to our homes?

We ask the Prime Minister to take a moment or two to reflect on what it must be like to live in a small farming/working community like Rawreth, to see water levels rising around you despite the national picture of low rainfall and water shortages, and to feel that no-one is listening to or responding to your concerns. Indeed, people seem intent on making things worse and we believe we have a RIGHT to live in peace without the threat of flooding whenever there is heavy rain.

We urge him to:

I To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to instruct Rochford District Council to follow the new guidelines he has set out when considering the planning proposal for 550 homes on green belt land on Rawreth Lane, Rayleigh. As part of this, to work with the Secretary of State for the Environment. The Environment Agency and Rochford District Council to ensure that any such application is considered in the light of a comprehensive assessment of the flood risk that it would cause.

Ii To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to instruct Rochford/Essex Council and the Environment Agency to take urgent action to assess and manage the flood risk created by construction projects over the past 5-7 years which feed surface water into channels running through Rawreth Village. This should be undertaken before any similar projects are approved or commenced in future. This should be undertaken before any similar projects are approved or commenced in future. This should include a comprehensive impact assessment of the individual and cumulative effects of the various works that have been undertaken, including looking critically at the effectiveness (or not) of the measures taken to manage the run off water from these projects.

Iii To ask the Secretaries of State for Communities and for the Environment to work together to ensure that in future Local Authorities and the Environment Agency consult with and take account of concerns of those living in areas of High flood probability when considering any new planning proposals which may impact upon them. In doing so, it will be important to include and involve those who may suffer the downstream effects of a development and who may be at some a distance from the development itself.

Re Houses to be built on green belt land between Rawreth Lane and London Road.

This is my response to Rochford Council regarding the concerns of Rawreth Parish Council and its residents.

1. Green Belt

The Government has said that green belt land should not be developed on, that we should grow food on this land as we are vastly over populated, and have to import most of our food. Plans are that in the future buildings would have to be designed to grow crops on them so we should not build on this land.

2. Flood Risk

Despite attending meetings about flooding Rochford Council still do not care if they along with other councils they cause flooding not one of the Councils have any calculations of water discharged into rivers. This is now the responsibility of the Environment Agency, Shaun Scrutton has said in a letter to me that they would avoid any surface water discharge into zone 3 where we live but this will not be the case. I would therefore like to make a presentation at the next meeting held at your offices.