To receive a presentation by consultants and EFDC officers from the Engineering, Drainage and Water Teams.
Background
Officers from the Council’s Engineering, Drainage and Water Team have been working with Essex County Council’s (ECC) Flood Team, consultants and other stakeholders to produce a Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP) for Loughton, Buckhurst Hill and Theydon Bois. The report outlines the predicted risk and preferred surface water management strategy for these areas. In this context surface water flooding describes flooding from sewers, drains, groundwater and runoff from land, small watercourses and ditches that occur as a result of heavy rainfall.
A four phase approach has been undertaken in line with Defra’s SWMP technical guidance 2010. The areas identified to be at more significant risk have been delineated into Critical Drainage Areas (CDAs) representing the contributing catchment area and features that influence the predicted flood extent. Within the study area a total of seven CDAs have been identified. For each CDA site specific measures have been identified that could be considered to help reduce the risk of surface water flooding. The process establishes a long term action plan for ECC, EFDC and other Flood Management Authorities to assist in their roles under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.
Amongst other measures, the long term action plan proposes flood mitigation planning policies, in the main, by the use of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDs). The SWMP will be fed into the new Local Plan and should form part of the Council’s Development Control policies.
These areas are the first within Epping District to be subject to a SWMP, because:-
i. Defra’s National Rank Order of Settlements Susceptible to Surface Water Flooding (Defra 2009) indicates that Loughton area is vulnerable to surface water flooding and is ranked 313th out of 4,215 settlements in England, with an estimated 1,000 at risk of flooding. The Defra document did not contain any information regarding the vulnerability or flood risk for Buckhurst Hill or Theydon Bois but due to historical flooding events it was decided to assess these areas as part of the SWMP; and
ii. As part of its duties created by the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, ECC (as the Lead Local Flood Risk Authority for Essex) produced in January 2011 a Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA). This PFRA identified the Loughton Area as a Tier 1 at risk area.
A presentation on the SWMP will be given by Capita the consultants who led on the project. Lucy Shepard, Essex County Council’s Lead Flood Investigation Officer, along with officers from EFDC, will also be present to help answer any questions.
Minutes:
The Select Committee received a presentation on the surface water management for Loughton, Buckhurst Hill and Theydon Bois from L Shepherd of Essex County Council and C Despins from Capita.
Officers from the Council’s Engineering, Drainage and Water Team had been working with Essex County Council’s Flood Team, consultants and other stakeholders in producing a Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP) for Loughton, Buckhurst Hill and Theydon Bois. The plan outlined the predicted risk and preferred surface water management strategy for these areas. Surface water flooding described flooding from sewers, drains, groundwater and run off from land, small watercourses and ditches that occurred as a result of heavy rainfall.
A four phase approach had been undertaken in line with Defra’s SWMP technical guidance for 2010. The areas identified as being at significant risk had been placed into Critical Drainage Areas (CDAs) of which a total of seven CDAs had been identified. For each site, specific measures had been identified that could be considered in helping reduce the risk of surface water flooding. The process established a long term action plan for the County Council, District Council and other flood management authorities to assist in their roles under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.
These areas were the first within Epping District subject to a SWMP, because:
(a) Defra’s National Rank Order of Settlements Susceptible to Surface water Flooding indicated that Loughton was vulnerable to surface water flooding and was ranked 313th out of 4,215 settlements in England with an estimated 1,000 at risk of flooding. The Defra document did not contain any information regarding the vulnerability or floodrisk for Buckhurst Hill or Theydon Bois, but due to historical flooding events it was decided to assess these areas as part of the SWMP; and
(b) As part of its duties created by the Flood and water Management Act 2010, the County Council produced in January 2011 a Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment which identified the Loughton area as a Tier 1 at risk area.
The select committee were advised of the potential options in dealing with flooding:
Identification of Options
(a) Soft Measures
(i) Adaptation of spatial planning policy
(ii) Improving maintenance of the drainage network
(iii) Emergency planning
(iv) Raising community awareness
(b) Hard Engineering Measures
(i) Ponds
(ii) Pipe enlargement
(iii) Additional gullies
(c) Sustainable Drainage Systems
(i) Bioretention (The process in which contaminants and sedimentation were removed from stormwater run off. Stormwater was then collected into the treatment area)
(ii) Green roofs (A roof partially or completely covered with vegetation)
(iii) Permeable Pavement (Was a range of sustainable materials that allowed the movement of stormwater through the water)
(iv) Detention Basins An excavated area installed on or adjacent to rivers, streams and the like for protection against flooding)
(v) Rainwater Harvesting (The accumulation and deposition of rainwater for re-use on site, rather than allowing it to run off)
(vi) Sub-Surface Storage (This relied on construction of water storage structure made of concrete or piping)
The select committee asked the invited guests about the various options for coping with flooding. Members were concerned about the role of Essex County Council Highways in supporting better flood preparation. A meeting had been undertaken with County Highways considering changing maintenance regimes on their assets. Whilst the attitude from Highways was positive, it was clear that their current funding and prioritisation gave limited focus to their own drainage assets. The working relationship the District Council had with the Drainage Engineer at Highways was extremely good.
L Shepherd and C Despins advised further of the problems they faced:
· Encouraging eligible residents to consider applying for Property Level Protection Grants that were available from ECC to install flood protection products, however properties must have been flooded previously to receive this.
· Continuing exploration of investment opportunities for drainage assets offered by developments that may come forward within the SWMP area, both pre and post adoption of the new Local Plan.
· Challenging drainage proposals where developers had not considered or embraced the range of sustainable drainage systems available.
· Working to ensure that Members and the wider public were aware of flood risk from all sources and how they could better prepare in the event of flooding.
· The Select Committee were advised that it was important building flood resilience into buildings, for example flooring that could be used after a flood.
Members were concerned about blockages in the River Roding which were not being cleared. Essex County Council replied that they had a very good relationship with the Environment Agency, however maintenance budgets had been cut, it was important to justify the benefits of work in line with costs sustained.
There was particular concern about flooding in the Theydon Bois, affecting 31 properties Essex County Council replied that it was difficult to assess options and deciding what would work. They would look at properties potentially effected, there were resources available. It was important to inform people and help with preparation. The select committee were concerned about the effects of flooding for future generations living in the district. The Planning Portfolio Holder said that through the Local Plan they were encouraging development away from flood plains.
The Chairman thanked the representatives from Essex County Council and Capita for attending, making their presentation and answering questions.
RESOLVED:
That the presentation regarding the Surface Water Management Plan for Loughton, Buckhurst Hill and Theydon Bois be noted.