Agenda item

Planning Application Documents

Officer introduction

MP introduced the application for on flood relief alleviation scheme on land south of  Beech Road, and seeks to address fluvial and overland flooding of residential property.   The proposed works are  approved  and funded by the Environment Agency.  Access is via Balcarras Road onto an existing track.  The application is at Committee as the applicant is CBC.  The recommendation is to permit, subject to the amended conditions.

Member debate

JP:  has no objection to flood alleviation schemes – they are essential  - but has a question for officers.  These works are being managed by the Environment Agency, which is perfectly sound,  but in Prestbury, where a flood storage area is managed by the Environment  Agency, is that in recent heavy rain, the scheme didn’t work, because the Environment Agency hasn’t  managed it properly.  The issue in this proposal is  whether the water courses that the scheme empties into are close to the properties, and do the boundaries on properties incorporate any part of watercourses with riparian rights.  The Environment Agency is now saying in Prestbury that the watercourses are the responsibility of residents , not of the Environment Agency, which is potentially a huge burden.  Could a similar situation occur here?

DB:  for clarification, can the officer comment on the situation around 75 Beeches Road, where the resident believes the flood alleviation works will cause flooding in his garden?  

MP, in response: 

-          the works are approved  by and funded by the Environment Agency, with the local planning authority responsible for management and maintenance of surface water work. The Environment Agency  won’t be managing the scheme; it is part of a wider package of flood relief work;

-          on the plan, it’s possible to see the properties in Beeches Road; they have long gardens abutting the site, with an  existing ditch across the back, just within the boundaries.  Doesn’t know about any rights but at the moment, the land drainage officer says water running down off the hill should go into the ditch but doesn’t – it goes over the ditch, This is an exercise to catch it, slow it down and direct it into the ditch.  It is fairly simple work.

JP:  this is almost an exact image of what happens in Prestbury.  The Environment Agency still apparently manages the scheme, but in heavy rain the overflow flood storage area filled up to 1.5m deep and nothing was done to control the outflow, resulting in flooded of the watercourses.  The Environment Agency says management of watercourses is residents’ responsibility; this is not right.  We will have to wait and see what happens there .

MP, in response: 

-          discussed the resident’s concerns with the applicant, who has been out to speak to the residents following their objection.   Even if permission is granted,  it is still private land,  and any works in the garden will have to be agreed between the applicant and the resident.  The applicant is in conversation with resident regarding the design of the headwall in his garden, so the resident will have some control over how  it is designed and what it will look like. 

Vote on officer recommendation to permit

10 in support

1 abstention

PERMIT