Express Your Views on Improved Strategies for Managing Flood Risk
Residents are invited to share their views on documents containing policies that outline the Flood Risk and Drainage Solutions approach to flood investigations and regulating ordinary watercourses. They aim to improve transparency and clarity about two key areas of work within Flood Risk and Drainage Solutions to manage the risk of flooding which could impact people and property, and to investigate when flooding does occur.
They cover the process used to decide whether investigations will look into the cause of a flood incident, and how activities that could impact the flow of certain watercourses will be overseen. As the lead local flood authority, there is a role in investigating the cause of many flood incidents, and regulating activities affecting ordinary watercourses, a term which refers to passages of water including streams, ditches, drains, sluices and private sewers which flow into main rivers.
The new draft policy on flood investigations is a document which sets out responsibilities and the approach to investigations. The draft policy on ordinary watercourse regulation runs and it describes the types of watercourse overseen, why they are important, and the approach to considering consent for changes which could affect them. It also outlines how enforcement powers may be prioritised.
The policies are expected to be of particular interest to communities at risk of flooding, landowners who have responsibilities for watercourses on their property, and developers whose work could affect watercourses.
You can view the new draft documents containing the policies and share your feedback by completing an online questionnaire before the consultation closes. Flood Risk Assessment Manchester Lancashire | Drainage Design
Our experts from Flood Risk and Drainage Solutions said that the devastating impact flooding can have on people’s lives and livelihoods has been clearly seen following a number of serious incidents in recent years.
The flood risk management team works with partner organisations responsible for managing water, along with local communities, to understand the causes of these incidents and, where appropriate, recommend and deliver measures to better manage and reduce the risk of flooding in the future.
It is important that people can easily understand the role in investigating floods, the process involved, and how the Flood and Water Management Act is applied to decide whether an investigation is appropriate. Moreover, it is equally vital that anyone with an ordinary watercourse on their property, or anyone proposing activity or development that could affect one, understands their responsibilities and the role in regulating them.
These watercourses play a vital role in controlling the flow of water, and the consequences of them becoming restricted or blocked could be very serious. However, significant progress has been made since the existing policies were introduced in 2014, and this is reflected in the clearer and more concise draft policies. Everyone with an interest is encouraged to share feedback and help make the final versions.
