“Known areas at risk of flooding include Blean, Chestfield, the Gorrel Stream, Swalecliffe Brook, Westbrook, Plenty Brook, Stour, Little Stour and Nailbourne river.” [Draft Local Plan 7.32]
The Council accepts that we have some known flood areas.
“The infrastructure along the coastal lowlands with respect to foul and surface water drainage is nearing saturation despite improvement works.” [Draft Local Plan 7.33]
We have a known sewage management problem and yet the Council is proposing lots of new housing. The Plan says that this problem will need to be dealt with (new treatment works etc.) but it does not say how, nor does it say how it will be paid for.
“On sites that have not been previously developed within the Environment Agency’s Zones 2 & 3, no development will be permitted unless an exceptional justification can be demonstrated.” [Draft Local Plan 7.41]
We think that both the Greenhill site and the Golf Course site might include areas which are at significant risk of flooding as defined by the Environment Agency. It is very difficult to be sure of this as the Plan only includes cartoon maps rather than proper plans that are to scale, but it does look as if residential housing is being planned for some flood risk areas. In addition, if this is a natural floodplain that is going to be built on, there will be an increased risk of flooding further down the line in central HB if all this housing is built.
The district is already water-stressed in terms of public water supply. There is no proposal to deal with the added demand on water that another 14,000 to 18,000 people will make. [Draft Local Plan 7.59]
HBM 