Cameron must rethink planning to prevent flooding

Local Lib Dem councillors have been campaigning for years to prevent building on green belt land near Churchtown. The areas in question (off Bankfield Lane and Moss Lane) are liable to flooding.

As we have seen on TV recently, widespread hardship has been caused by floods in the South of the country.

The following article has been written by Councillor Tony Robertson, Lib Dem Planning Spokesperson on Sefton Council. We are reproducing it here as the issues Tony raises are applicable to Churchtown.

Tony Robertson writes:

A group of experts led by the Landscape Institute have written to David Cameron warning that the Government must not risk future flood prevention by focusing on short-term problems. The experts are calling for planners to adopt a series of measures aimed at tackling the risk of flooding, including measures like planting trees, requiring that all new developments in towns and cities should include flood alleviation and protection measures, and that any new homes built on flood plains must be resilient to flooding. Sue Illman, president of the Landscape Institute, said: “We want the money that is going to be invested spent wisely to give us a proper outcome.” The Guardian reports that dredging of two major rivers feeding the Somerset Levels is due to begin in the next few weeks.

The LGiU produced the above (edited by me) but that is only part of the story. Fundamentally, the UK problem is that Planning is seen as a predominately economic matter with environmental consequences being very much a secondary consideration. Such has been the case for generations and Governments of all colours have failed to act to bring true harmony between environmental and planning policy making. 

The issue has not been highlighted by flooding so much in Sefton, although concern about the potential for flooding was a major consideration in the minds of Formby residents when they recently rose up to fight a new housing development off Liverpool Road. The elephant in the room, or should I say both elephants, are flooding and building on high grade agricultural land. Both are high end public concerns that most Westminster politicians seem to be oblivious of.

STOP PRESS: extra consultation on flood management proposals

There will be an extra consultation drop-in session on proposals to cut back on pumping stations near Southport. The consultation session is organised by the Environment Agency and will be at St Cuthberts, Churchtown (PR9 7NA) on Thursday 24th November and you can drop in at any time between 2 pm and 7.15 pm.

The Environment Agency is preparing a plan for future flood risk management within the Lower Alt with Crossens pumped drainage catchment area. This includes a proposal to cut back on pumping at some or all of the 13 pumping stations draining the low lying areas around Southport.

Local Lib Dems have welcomed the extra consultation session, which was called for by Cllr John Dodd.

John Dodd said: “Within living memory we have had flooding of some homes in Crossens from the pumped watercourses, so this is an issue of serious concern.  It was unacceptable that the Environment Agency were only going to hold two consultation sessions for members of the public, one in Formby and one in Halsall.”

“The Crossens Pumping Station is one the two main facilities for the whole catchment area and there is talk of reducing capacity there.  It is essential that residents living in the northern end of Southport have the opportunity to have their say.”

Further details of the flood risk management plan for the Alt - Crossens catchment area are available from the Environment Agency website.

John Dodd concerned about risk of increased flooding

A proposal to cut back on pumping water from low lying areas between Southport, Ormskirk and Formby is a major worry to local residents, says Lib Dem Councillor John Dodd. The Environment Agency are proposing to cut back on pumping at some or all of the 13 pumping stations draining the low lying areas around Southport.

Cllr John Dodd (left) and Cllr Simon Shaw

 

 

Cllr Dodd said: “Within living memory we have had flooding of some homes in Crossens from the pumped watercourses, so this is an issue of serious concern.  I think it is unacceptable that the Environment Agency are only holding two consultation sessions for members of the public, one in Formby and one on Halsall.”

“The Crossens Pumping Station is one the two main facilities for the whole catchment area and there is talk of reducing capacity there.  It is essential that there is at least one more drop-in session for residents living in the northern end of Southport.”

Cllr Dodd has raised his concerns with Cllr Simon Shaw (Lib Dem), Cabinet Member Environmental for Sefton Council.

Cllr Shaw said: “I very much agree that there need to be further public meetings so that residents can get answers to their questions.  I fact, I have already been raised my concerns with the Environment Agency.”

“From what I have been told, if this proposal were to go through, it seems that the main impact would be on farmland and that’s a major issue in itself.  In simple terms, what is being suggested is a different approach involving much less pumping and more allowing watercourses to overflow onto flood plains in rural areas.”

“It is obviously crucial that councillors and concerned residents get some clear guarantees that this does not mean any greater risk of flooding in built up areas.”

There is a consultation session at Halsall, next Tuesday (1 November) from 1.00pm to 6.30pm at Halsall Memorial Hall.