|
1.
|
INTRODUCTION
|
|
Purpose
|
|
1.1
|
This policy statement has been prepared by Stoke Ferry Internal Drainage Board to provide a public statement of the Board’s approach to its management of flood
risk and water levels in its area.
|
|
Background
|
|
1.2
|
The Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has policy responsibility for flood and
coastal defence in England. However, delivery is the responsibility of a number of flood and
coastal defence "operating authorities" which includes the Stoke Ferry Internal Drainage Board.
|
|
1.3
|
The Government has published a policy aim and three objectives for flood and coastal defence (1).
To ensure a more certain delivery of the aim and objectives by the individual operating authorities
the Government has published a series of high level targets (2). The first target requires each
operating authority to publish a policy statement setting out their plans for delivering the
Government’s policy aim and objectives in their area. This will include an assessment of the
risk of flooding and coastal erosion in their area, and what plans they have to reduce that risk.
|
|
1.4
|
This policy statement fulfils that requirement. Copies are available from the Board’s offices at
21 London Road, Downham Market, Norfolk, PE38 9AP. Copies are also provided to DEFRA, and to the
Environment Agency and local authorities.
|
|
1.5
|
The Government’s policy aim is:
To reduce the risk to people and the developed and natural environment from flooding and coastal
erosion by encouraging the provision of technically environmentally and economically sound and
sustainable defence measures.
|
|
1.6
|
The key objectives to achieve this aim are:-
(a) To encourage the provision of adequate, economically, technically and
environmentally sound and sustainable flood and coastal defence measures.
(b) To discourage inappropriate development in areas at risk from flooding.
(c) To encourage the provision of adequate and cost effective flood warning systems.
|
|
2.
|
HOW THE BOARD WILL DELIVER THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY AIM AND OBJECTIVES
|
|
2.1
|
The Board supports the Government aim and objectives for the management of
flood risk and water levels. Its policy and approach will be consistent with them as follows:-
Objective (a): To encourage the provision of adequate economically, technically and
environmentally sound and sustainable flood and coastal defence measures, the Board will:-
| i) | seek to retain this risk at acceptable levels
through appropriate improvements and the implementation of a sound maintenance strategy. It
will also seek to ensure that the Environment Agency’s flood defences, which also afford
protection to the district, are maintained at a satisfactory standard. |
| ii) | carry out work in accordance with best
practice and to deliver best value for money taking due regard of guidance available from DEFRA,
the Environment Agency and other organisations. |
| iii) | regulate as necessary, using the powers available, the
actions of others to ensure their works do not increase the risk of flooding. |
| iv) | ensure that riparian owners are aware of their
responsibilities for maintenance. |
| v) | play a positive role in fulfilling our statutory and
other responsibilities for nature conservation, including achievement of the Government’s
environmental objections and targets. It acknowledges its responsibilities under the Land
Drainage Acts of 1991 and 1994, The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the European Birds and
Habitats Directives and the Conservation (Natural Habitats & C) Regulations 1994. |
| vi) | when carrying out our works, seek to avoid
wherever possible damage to environmental interests and aim to ensure no net loss to habitats
covered by the Biodiversity Action Plans and seek opportunities to enhance the aquatic environment. |
| vii) | co-operate with other bodies and make input to the
development of Local Environment Agency Plans. |
Objective (b): To discourage inappropriate development in areas at risk from flooding and coastal erosion.
| - | the Board will fully recognise the potential impact on flood risk through future
development in the drainage District, or in the wider catchment draining to the District, and will take
an active role in the assessment of structure planning,
local plans and individual applications to ensure flood risk is not increased. Where appropriate
the Board will secure from Developers contributions to cover the cost of both immediate and longer
term works necessary in ensuring that any potential increase in flood risk can be removed. |
Objective (c): To encourage the provision of adequate and cost effective flood
warning systems.
| - | the Board will assist the Environment Agency wherever possible in its provision of
adequate and cost effective flood warning systems, co-operate with the Agency in
responses to flood emergencies and participating as necessary in exercises to develop
and test emergency response procedures, reviewing such arrangements every two
years. |
|
|
3.
|
FLOODING RISKS IN THE BOARD’S DISTRICT
|
|
3.1
|
As mentioned in Section 2, the entire drainage district is at some risk to flooding. That risk is
substantially controlled but some variation in the standards of protection will apply. The
following are the key details of the District:
| Catchment Area draining to and including the District |
5,000 ha |
| Total area of the District |
2,621 ha |
| Area of Agricultural Land |
2,451 ha |
| Area of Residential Property |
52 ha |
| Area of Industrial Property | 98 ha |
| Other non agricultural (roads, rivers, railways, tracks etc) |
20 ha |
| Sites of Environmental Interest:- |
Hilgay Heronry SSSI - 2 ha |
|
|
3.2
|
The Board has provided the Environment Agency with information
on the major flood defence assets for which the Board is responsible. The information is
available from the Environment Agency at Bromholme Lane, Brampton, Huntingdon, Cambs., PE18 8NE.
|
|
3.3
|
Assets for which the Board has operating authority responsibility
| Pumping Stations | 4 No, Wretton Fen, Cornways, Roxham Fen, Fordham Fen |
| Watercourses |
Arterial system of main drains |
| *Critical watercourses |
nil |
| Raised Embankments |
Gooles Run Embankment
Fordham Fen Embankment |
*Critical watercourses are those from which overspilling will put at risk of flooding a significant number of people
and properties. The above have been agreed with the Environment Agency against clear criteria.
|
|
3.4
|
Passing through or adjacent to the District are the following assets maintained by the Environment Agency.
| Main Rivers |
Relief Channel
Cut-off Channel
River Wissey
String Drain |
| River Raised Embankments |
Banks of River Wissey and Banks of Cut-off Channel |
|
|
3.5
|
There are no critical watercourses within the District.
|
|
3.6
|
The Board's assessment of Flood Risk from the watercourses shown above, taking into account the following:-
|
i)
|
Assets in place considering design standard and life.
|
|
ii)
|
Environment Agency flood risk maps.
|
|
iii)
|
Other information such as the history of flooding and land use impacts.
|
is that the Flood Risk is low provided adequate maintenance is carried out.
|
|
3.7
|
In the Board's view, all the District is vulnerable if extreme circumstances occur, with no one particular area more vulnerable than another.
The Board is satisfied that there are minimal risks to human life arising from any failure in its assets or overspilling
from its watercourses.
|
|
3.8
|
Through the operation and maintenance of the channel system the Board seek to maintain a general standard capable of
providing flood protection to agricultural land and developed areas of 1 in 20 and 1 in 100 years respectively. This
likely return period cannot be taken literally and should be considered as a chance of some overspilling from the system
taking place each year as being 5% and 1% respectively.
|
|
3.9
|
Reduction and Management of these Flood Risks
The Board monitor the condition of its pumping stations and watercourses on a regular basis.
Consistent with the established needs, a routine
maintenance programme is in place to ensure that the condition of the assets is commensurate with the standards
of protection which are sought.
Where standards are not at the policy level, improvement works will be considered and undertaken as appropriate,
where they can be demonstrated to meet with DEFRA criteria.
The Board welcome from its agricultural ratepayers, the Borough Council and members of the public any
comments on the condition of its system which could lead to any increased flood risk.
|
|
3.10
|
The Board will seek to promote the need for works in its District and create an understanding among people
who live and work in it as to what the flood risk is and the efforts made to control it. It will also seek
to achieve directly and through local councils a culture within which the watercourses are seen as vital to
controlling flood risk, whilst providing an interesting aquatic habit and dissuade abuse of them through
dumping waste or obstructing flows in other ways.
|
|
4.
|
REVIEW OF THIS POLICY STATEMENT
Stoke Ferry IDB will review this Policy Statement within a period not extending beyond 3 years.
References
1) Strategy for Flood and Coastal Defence in England and Wales MAFF and Welsh Office, September 1993.
2) High Level Targets for Flood and Coastal Defence Operating Authorities and Elaboration of the Environment
Agency’s Flood Defence Supervisory Duty MAFF, November 1999.
|
