Memorandum submitted by David Jones (FL
51)
REGARDING FLOODING
IN ENGLAND
AND WALES.
I am a retired Chartered Civil Engineer and
was affected by the recent floods in Gloucester. I worked for
Gloucestershire County Council Highways Department between 1964
and 1989 and as an independent consultant thereafter until last
year. During my time at the County, I worked inter alia on Development
of Tewkesbury and Gloucester when Planning Policies were generated
allowing building to 10.4 O.D. Some arguments for a 14.5 O.D.
were overruled. Whilst an articled pupil in West London I had
experience in dealing with a number of drainage matters including
flood relief work along The Thames as a result of the 1947 floods.
I believe there are a number of issues causing severe flooding
along the Lower Severn in July 2007:
1. Geography of The Severn Valley
Generally the River Severn flows in a south-westerly
direction against the prevailing wind.Thus a typical Atlantic
Storm blows up The Severn as flood waters travel down it. This
is a completely different situation to river estuaries flowing
eastwards to The North Sea such as the Humber where the south-westerly
air stream flows more or less with the river current. There are
also differences in geology all of which may lead to individual
policies for each flood plain.
2. Building on the Flood Plain
This is dealt with adequately under existing
terms of reference of The Environment Agency but advice to Local
Planning Authorities on planning applications is not mandatory.
3. Building on areas above flood plains where
rain water can be retained
This should not be confused with (2) above.
Here the ground acts as a sponge allowing slow release of surface
water reducing the possibility of sudden flooding. EA comments
on planning applications do not appear to deal with this matter.
4. River and Watercourse Management
The bed of the River Severn above Gloucester
is rising possibly due to the Victorian Weirs at Gloucester which
allow mud to flow up stream on a flood tide but deposits mud on
an ebb tide. After the July 2007 storm the water ran off from
areas above the 50 m contour very quickly. My house is in this
area and there were very few problems. The nearby Gloucester Trading
Estate is being developed at the present time and provision has
been made to contain water already in water courses such as the
Wotton Brook in a balancing tank. Inspection showed that 2 days
after the flood the balancing tank was empty.
I believe the following measures should be introduced:
1. The EA should have powers of direction
for planning purposes.
2. The EA should develop policies on land
for water retention above general flood levels.
3. Management of water courses and water
flow control systems should be undertaken more vigorously.
D R Jones CEng MICE
August 2007
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