Flood Risk

Comment

Representation ID: 19290

Received: 30/01/2009

Respondent: Ian Dunlop

If there were genuine flood plains alongside the Rother ,for example from Bodiam through to Newenden, then much of the pressure of flooding could be absorbed.
Instead we have the banks of the Rother artificially raised which increases the speed of flow of the river and increases the potential damage of any breach of these banks.

Object

Representation ID: 19486

Received: 24/02/2009

Respondent: Environment Agency

Flood Risk
We support the inclusion of a Flood Risk Policy in the Strategy Directions. We do however, recommend that some minor changes are incorporated. With regard to regeneration in areas of flood risk, we recommend that Paragraph 12.42 is rewritten to reflect the requirement of Criterion a) of the Exception Test. This seeks to ensure that where a site has been sequentially tested and the principle of development has been accepted, it must be demonstrated that the development provides wider sustainability benefits as set out in PPS12

Object

Representation ID: 19487

Received: 24/02/2009

Respondent: Environment Agency

Currently the Strategy links developing outside of flood areas with decline in economic activity in general. It would be the case that for development proposed within Flood Zones 2 or 3 a Sequential Test would need to be satisfied if the principle of development on any particular site were to be accepted. This would ensure that development is directed away from areas at highest risk of flooding. In this case, any development on the site would need to meet the Exception Test which includes the justification of achieving wider sustainability benefits, which would include regeneration and economic development. See Recommendation 13.

Remove Paragraph 12.42 as the justification for developing sites within flood risk areas will be established through the application of PPS25 using the Sequential Test and where appropriate the Exception Test. This will ensure that the relationship between flood risk, economic development and sustainability is properly represented.

Comment

Representation ID: 19489

Received: 24/02/2009

Respondent: Environment Agency

We consider that the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment should be a document used for the implementation of the Strategy for Environment and therefore included in the list in paragraph 12.45. See Recommendation 15.
Page 120 - Paragraph 12.45 should include a bullet point to read "Strategic Flood Risk Assessment".

Comment

Representation ID: 19856

Received: 04/02/2009

Respondent: Crowhurst Society

12.39 Control of any development in flood plains needs to be mandatory.