Object
Issues and Options Document
Representation ID: 34842
Received: 15/02/2018
Respondent: Mr John Surgett
Climate change adaption states that in addition to flood risk from tidal sources, fluvial systems also pose a risk to parts of this district.
The impermeable underlying geology & seasonable wet deep clay soils in the western parts of the district significantly limits the opportunities for SuDS, so will lead to rapid runoff of sw into local watercourses which will inevitably get worse with climate change.
RDC have not assessed, previously any alternatives in terms of major impacts & sustainability. We therefore have no confidence that this will change in any future emerging new Local Plan for this District
We feel that the indicated sites in Hullbridge/Rawreth area are mainly Green Belt and are not sustainable for the following reasons:-
The NPPF states that developments should be directed away from areas of high risk of flooding, with any new developments not to be allocated if there are reasonable available sites appropriate for any proposed development in areas with a lower probability of flooding.
Where development is necessary, it should be made safe without increasing levels of flood risk elsewhere. South Essex Surface Water Management Plan statement includes consideration of flooding from sewers, drains, groundwater & s.w. runoff from land, small watercourses & ditches that occurs as a result of heavy
rainfall. None of this was taken into account by RDC in the proposed development at Malyons in Hullbridge, the southern end of which is in the flood plain and should therefore not be built on especially when calculated for a minimum of 1 in 1 year annual probability storm, together with the amount of additional surface water runoff due to the extra impermeable surfaces from any proposed developments which would inevitably add to the volume of water to be dealt with, especially as DEFRA have now bottled out of introducing Sustainable Drainage Systems SuDS as compulsory legislation. Essex Constabulary have records which show Watery Lane in Hullbridge was flooded 25 times in 5 years, average 5 times per year causing Watery Lane to be closed for 13 weeks continuously.