Water Management Alliance

1.

INTRODUCTION

Purpose

1.1

This policy statement has been prepared by South Holland Internal Drainage Board to provide a public statement of the Board’s approach to its management of flood risk and water levels in its area.

Background

1.2

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has policy responsibility for flood and coastal defence in England.  However, delivery is the responsibility of a number of flood and coastal defence “operating authorities” which includes the South Holland Internal Drainage Board.

1.3

The Government has published a policy aim and three objectives for flood and coastal defence.  To ensure a more certain delivery of aim and objectives by the individual operating authorities the Government has published a series of high level targets.  The first target requires each operating authority to publish a policy statement setting out their plans for delivering the Government’s policy aim and objectives in their area.  This will include an assessment of the risk of flooding and coastal erosion in their area, and what plans they have to reduce that risk.

1.4

This policy statement fulfils that requirement. Copies are available from the Board’s offices at Kettlewell House, Austin Fields, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 1PH.  We are also providing a copy to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Environment Agency and local authorities.

1.5

The Government’s policy aim is:

To reduce the risk to people and the developed and natural environment from flooding and coastal erosion by encouraging the provision of technically, environmentally and economically sound and sustainable defence measures.

1.6

The key objectives to achieve this aim are:

(a)

(b)

(c)

To encourage the provision of adequate and cost effective flood warning systems.

To encourage the provision of adequate, economically, technically and environmentally sound and sustainable flood and coastal defence measures.

To discourage inappropriate development in areas at risk from flooding and coastal erosion.

2.

HOW THE BOARD WILL DELIVER THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY AIM AND OBJECTIVES

2.1

South Holland IDB supports the Government aim and objectives for management of flood risk and water levels.  Our policy and approach will be consistent with them as follows:

Objective (a):  to encourage the provision of adequate and cost effective flood warning systems

(a)

The Board will assist the Environment Agency wherever possible in its provision of adequate and cost effective flood warning systems, co-operate with the Agency in responses to flood emergencies and participating as necessary in exercises to develop and test emergency response procedures.

Objective (b): to encourage the provision of adequate economically, technically and environmentally sound and sustainable flood and coastal defence measures

(a)

Within the drainage district potentially all the area is at some risk of flooding and the Board will seek to retain this risk at acceptable levels through appropriate improvements and the implementation of a sound maintenance strategy.  They will also seek to monitor the performance of the Environment Agency with regard to coastal and tidal river defence assets. 

(b)

Work will be carried out in accordance with best practice and to deliver best value for money taking due regard of guidance available from Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Environment Agency and other organisations.

(c)

Regulate as necessary using the available powers the actions of others to ensure their works do not increase the flood risk.

(d)

Ensure that, where appropriate, riparian owners are aware of their responsibilities for maintenance.

(e)

Play a positive role in fulfilling our statutory and other responsibilities for nature conservation, including achievement of the Governments environmental objections and targets. We acknowledge our responsibilities under the Land Drainage Acts of 1991 and 1994, The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the European Birds and Habitats Directives and the Conservation (Natural Habitats & C) Regulations 1994 and the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

(f)

Works will be carried out in accordance with our published Standard Maintenance Operations and we will seek to avoid wherever possible damage to environmental interests and aim to ensure no net loss to habitats covered by Biodiversity Action Plans and seek opportunities to enhance the aquatic environment.

(g)

Ensure that for those Water Level Management Plans where we are the leading operating authority we work in partnership with English Nature to complete, implement where appropriate, and review Plans in accordance with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs guidance on plan completion and the timetables set out in the High Level Targets.

(h)

Co-operate with other bodies and make input to the development of Shoreline Management Plans, Coastal Habitat Plans and Local Environmental Agency Plans.

Objective (c): To discourage inappropriate development in areas at risk from flooding and coastal erosion

(a)

The potential impact on flood risk through future development in the Drainage District is fully recognised by the Board and it will take an active role in the assessment of structure planning, local plans and individual applications to ensure flood risk is not increased.  Where appropriate the Board will secure from Developers contributions to cover the cost of both immediate and longer term works necessary in ensuring that any potential increase in flood risk can be removed. 

3.

FLOODING RISKS IN THE BOARD’S DISTRICT

3.1

As mentioned in Section 2, the entire Drainage District is at some risk of flooding but that risk is substantially controlled, although some variation in the standards of protection will apply. The key details of the Drainage District are as stated on the Board's Area web page at www.wlma.org.uk.

3.2

South Holland IDB has provided the Environment Agency with information on the major flood defence assets for which the Board are responsible.  The information is available from the Environment Agency at Kingfisher House, Goldhay Way, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough, PE2 0ZR.

3.3

Assets for which the Board has operating authority responsibility are as stated on the Board's Area web page on this site. Passing through or adjacent to the Drainage District are a number of assets maintained by the Environment Agency.

3.4

Flood Risk From These Watercourses

This section sets out the Board’s assessment of flood risk taking into account the follow:

(a)

Assets in place considering design standard and life;

(b)

Environment Agency flood risk maps;

(c)

Other information such as the history of flooding and land use impacts.

3.5

The areas which are more vulnerable to flooding due to the particular local circumstances are adjacent to main rivers and sea defences.  The Board is satisfied that there are minimal risks to human life arising from any failure in its assets or overspilling from its watercourses.

3.6

Standard of Protection

Through the operation and maintenance of the pumping stations and the channel system the Board seek to maintain a general standard capable of providing flood protection to agricultural land and developed areas of 1 in 20 and 1 in 100 years respectively.  This likely return period can not be taken literally and should be considered as a chance of some overspilling from the system taking place each year as being 5% and 1% respectively.

3.7

Reduction and Management of These Flood Risks

The Board monitor the condition of its pumping stations and watercourses, particularly those designated as critical, overspilling from which could affect property.  Consistent with the established need a routine maintenance programme is in place to ensure that the condition of the assets is commensurate with standards of protection which are sought.  Where standards are not at the policy level where they can be demonstrated to meet with Defra criteria, improvement works will be considered and undertaken as appropriate.

The Board welcome from its agricultural ratepayers, special levy councils and members of the public any comments on the condition of its system which could lead to any increased flood risk.

3.8

Publicity

The Board will seek to promote the need for works in its District and create an understanding among people who live and work in it as to what the flood risk is and the efforts made to control it.  They will also seek to achieve directly and through local councils a culture within which the watercourses are seen as vital to controlling flood risk, whilst providing an interesting aquatic habitat and dissuade abuse of them through dumping waste or obstructing flows in other ways.

3.9

Regulation of Activities

The Board will exercise as required its powers under the Land Drainage Act 1991 and its Byelaws to ensure that activities in and alongside its drainage system do not reduce flood protection standards and unnecessarily increase flood risk.

4.

REVIEW OF THIS POLICY STATEMENT

4.1

South Holland IDB will review this Policy Statement within a period not extending beyond 5 years.

This Policy Statement was last reviewed on 1 April 2008.