News Release : 14 March 2001

NEW FLOOD GUIDANCE IS FLAWED SAYS SOUTH EAST ASSEMBLY

THE LATEST draft Government guidance on flooding has been criticised as an over-reaction to the planning dimension of recent flooding problems, according to the South East England Regional Assembly's Planning Committee.

At a meeting last week the Regional Planning Committee warned that the draft Guidance could lead to significant new difficulties for planning authorities and developers in bringing forward development in the region. The Committee called for a re-draft of the Guidance and for it to be set in a wider sustainable water management context.

The Committee is also seeking a further urgent review of planned capital investment levels for flood prevention in the South East region, as it believes that the region's special needs justify an increased public investment programme.

Committee Chairman Cllr Nick Skellett said: "The Regional Planning Committee welcomed the publication of further planning Guidance on flooding, and supported a tightening of present procedures. But they felt Ministers were over-reacting and placing too much blame on the planning system for flooding problems."

The Committee also heard that local authorities had grave concerns as to whether the Environment Agency could provide the necessary technical support and advice to implement the new Guidance.

"The Committee felt that the Guidance in its present form could make the release of development land in the South East significantly more difficult, and threaten regional planning targets," said Cllr Skellett.

It was noted that in some parts of the region, where adequate public investment had been made and long term development plans implemented, relatively little flooding had occurred. The Assembly will therefore be asking Ministers to support a research programme for the South East region which could draw out the lessons of successful flood prevention schemes and apply them more widely in the future.

Members also want Ministers to publicise more widely the results of their own research, which suggests that the number of cases where planning authorities have not heeded advice on flooding issues, is relatively small.

"The Regional Planning Committee believes this is a very important strategic issue, and we are seeking an early meeting with Government officials to seek further clarification and also to press the case for further public resources for flood prevention measures in the South East region," said Cllr Skellett.

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
   
   
2. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
   
   
3. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
   
   
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
   
   
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007

Copyright © 2004 SEERA Limited. All rights reserved.