BUILDING ON FLOOD PLAINS IS JUST PLAIN CRAZY?

[J.R.P.]

Yes, we are building on flood plains to give people a roof over their heads,but at what cost if the water level rise suddenly like in America.
I think all the people involved in building the houses in the UK,in the normal way on flood plains are crazy. I believe every building by law built on a flood plain should be built with a lower section space for either vehicles or storage only,to help raise the building up by at least 10 feet from the ground surface. This would mean for example every building with a pathway outside it now,would have the same thing but there would be another pathway above that in line with the front door of the building it was outside. This way would mean you would still have the lower ground area as a garden or a drive way or what ever,but if in the case of any flooding,the living area would be less likely to be damaged,and lose of life too. Yes this way would also mean using steps or a lift to go up or down to go to your vehicle or garden,but if it meant saving your life and property in a flood situation then I think it's crazy not to build houses on flood plains in any other way. Whilst the Thames barrier will stop high water,water will still find it's own level,so it will back up until it finds lower ground,then it will come in behind them if we don't do something now to help our selve's If we don't build higher walkways or barriers all the way round our rivers or streams nature will win. Yes it would make the Thames narrower for example,but it would work,after all whilst the Thames has already been made to look better,now is the time to start doing something about stopping out country from drowning if we can. Other benefits to my idea are most walkways could go over roadways, with the same street lighting to light up the road and both walkways at the same time if my idea was used,this would also make for cleaner walkways,of course there will be problem with a new way of living on a flood plain,but at least people would have a chance to survive in a flood situation along with every one else,and any business could have their deliveries made easier,plus in the case of a flood the stock could be replaced,and business carry on. For all those people who are already living on a flood plain, I wish you all a long and happy life. John JRP.

[Richard]

The UK already has pretty tight planning restrictions for building in flood plains, and these are likely to become even stricter in the future.

This is an area that is receiving a lot of attention at the moment and all the relevant institutions are well aware of the problem e.g. Environment Agency, central government, local authorities etc.

Expect improvements in the future - we've made a lot of mistakes in the past re: land-use planning and flood plains but we are learning from those mistakes.

[seven]

It stands to reason though that the more people we try and squeeze into Britain and other countries the less judicious we will be regarding the location of properties.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by seven

It stands to reason though that the more people we try and squeeze into Britain and other countries the less judicious we will be regarding the location of properties.

Not really, at the moment the opposite is usually true.

[J.R.P.]

We can put buildings on flood plains,I say,if we build them all up higher.
Greenwich and Lewisham: Development will 'make matters worse,as reported in our local News paper,as shown 12-10-2005.
The risk of severe flooding to parts of London is not being taken seriously enough,according to the authors of a new report.
The London Assembly Environment committee report says the 1.25m residents and workers in the Thames Estuary area are at risk from flooding - New Orleans style. And they say new development in the area could make the problem worse. The report also revealed there is confusion over who runs the city's defence system,which is thought to be in a worse state towards the coast.
The report states lessons need to be learned from the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina,and calls for a clarification of who is responsible for flood defences in the Thames Gateway.
It reveals there is a web of agences in the area sharing overlapping responsiblities for defending the city. It also warns the risk of flooding in london is being greatly increased as much of the DEVELOPMENT AREA IS ON FLOOD PLAINS.
The committee's chairman,Lewisham councillor,said: "WE are extremely concerned about development plans for EAST LONDON and the building of THOUSANDS of NEW HOMES in THAMES GATEWAY."
" These plans are simply not taking flood risk issues seriously enough."
He also raised concerns about the long-term life of the Thames Barrier - a key issue for Lewisham and Greenwich.
But the Environment Agency says the city's defences will benefit from £300m pounds investment over the next 15 years. Thames Estuary programme executive for the Environment Agency said: "The disastrous impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans reminds us all the consequences of complacency can be tragic."
" BUT LONDON CAN BE REASSURED THEIR CITY'S FLOOD DEFENCES ARE IN GOOD SHAPE AND THEY OFFER A HIGH LEVEL OF PROTECTION."
I HOPE SO, DON'T YOU. John JRP. London SE9.

[J.R.P.]

Flood prevention plans in full flow,as reported in our local News paper on the 28-9-2005 as shown. Land disappearing underwater sounds more like a disaster movie than the future of north kent.
But new research says in an extreme flood event,as experienced in New Orleans,EXISTING DEFENCES COULD BE OVERWHELMED IN LONDON and the THAMES ESTUARY.
The Floodscape project is looking at consulting with residents to develop natural areas to control flood risk. The research is based around the idea of the "1,000 year flood"--an extreme rise in water levels which pose the greatest threat to the Thames Estuary.
Floodscape co-ordinator says in theory this potentially catastrophic event could hit at any time. But now his project is looking at using the KENT MARSHES as a place where excess water can be dumped to save residential areas.
In the UK a total of £700,000 will be spent by the EU-FUNDED project on three pilot schemes looking at landscape change and flood risk including the north Kent marshes in Medway,to be completed by the end of next year. Suggestions for ways to use natural flood defences will feed into the Thames Estuary 2100 project,which is developing an Estuary flood risk management strategy for the next 100 years.
"Floodscape is providing Thames Estuary 2100 with tools to engage communities and decision-maker in planning for and investigating acceptable measures to manage flood risk."
Different options were discussed with people from the north Kent community who were shown the consequences of making various changes to the flood defence system using computer models.
"The acceptability of each measure is determind by environmental impact,benefits and community opinions."
One measure,controlled inundation,would mean lowering or maintaining the height of existing defences so excess water would flood predetermined areas and not properties.
This could even lead to new natural habitats being created for wildlife.
Another option considered in the consultation is managed realignment,which involves creating holes in or removing existing defences.
Homes would be protected by land gradient or new defences,while the area in-between may be inundated by the twice-daily tide and extreme floods.
The RSPB was one of the STAKEHOLDERS involved in the FLOODSCAPE CONSULTATION.
RSPB conservation officer for the area says planning for the future is essential to protect the area.
She said:"THERE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE PROTECTION FOR TOWNS. "MOVING GRAVESEND OR LONDON IS NOT AN OPTION."
In 1928:The tide in LONDON rose nearly 30cm higher than previous records an 14 people drowned in westminster when the River Thames overflowed.
In 1953: Over 300 people lost their lives and 24,000 houses were flooded as defences in Kent were breached due to freak waves and a swelling tide along the east coast.
In 2005: 4.5cm of torrential rain fell in under an hour,badly affecting Dartford,with manhole covers forced off and roads closing.
I BELIEVE THE WRITING IS ALREADY ON THE WALL FOR US,EVEN AS I WRITE THIS MESSAGE THE RAIN IS COMEING DOWN AS IF SOME ONE HAD JUST PULLED THE PLUG OUT OVER MY HOUSE AND OTHERS,FLOODING THE ROAD OUTSIDE IT TOO. I HOPE IT STOPS SOON,DON'T YOU. 1230pm. JOHN JRP

[J.R.P.]

Residents vote to keep flood walls,as reported in our local News paper on the 19-10-2005 as shown. People living near the NORTH KENT MARSHES have voted for no change in the way flooding is managed in the area.
A 15-month-long consultation has discovered residents and groups favour retaining the current method of having flood defences between the marshes and the Thames Estuary.
It had been suggested by consultation organiser FLOODSCAPE the defences be moved back to allow the area to flood--creating salt marshes and mud flats.
Although residents said they would consider letting small areas flood to increase saltmarshes to add to the ecological value of the area,they would rather keep the defences in place.
And in some cases they wanted the defences built higher to stop future flooding in ST MARY'S MARSHES,NORTH of STROOD.
The project also covered an area from WENNINGTON MARSHES,SOUTH of RAINHAM,to the AVELEY MARSHES,near PURFLEET.
Floodscape,which is an EU-funded pilot action,will now give the residents, feedback to the Thames Estuary 2100 project,which is planning to protect the 1.25m people at risk from flooding in this area.
It will present its plans to the Goverment.
More than 100 people heard about the future of the Marshes at the meeting last week.
A Dickens Country Protection Society committee member said,the ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP OBVIOUSLY HAS A VESTED INTEREST IN THE AREA.
She also said:"THE CONSENSUS OF THE GROUP WAS IT SHOULD REMAIN AS IT IS."
A retired lady of 65 said: She attended the meeting because she wanted to know what is going on in the marshes.
She also said:"We don't want to see them flooded,we want to see it how it is now."
Floodscape project manager said:"THIS IS ONE PIECE OF THE JIGSAW."
"THE PROJECT IS MORE ABOUT EXPLORING RATHER THAN GETTING TO THE STAGE WHERE SOMETHING IS CHOSEN." I HOPE IT STOPS RAINING SOON,DON'T YOU. John JRP.

[Richard]

A 15-month-long consultation has discovered residents and groups favour retaining the current method of having flood defences between the marshes and the Thames Estuary.
It had been suggested by consultation organiser FLOODSCAPE the defences be moved back to allow the area to flood--creating salt marshes and mud flats.
Although residents said they would consider letting small areas flood to increase saltmarshes to add to the ecological value of the area,they would rather keep the defences in place.

The marshes are highly likely to be a natural part of the hydrological cycle in that area. They are meant to flood. Duh!

She said:"The consensus of the group was it should remain as it is."A retired lady of 65 said she attended the meeting because she wanted to know what is going on in the marshes.
She said:"WE don't want to see them flooded,we want to see it how it is now."

We don't like change. Change is bad. Let's keep things the same as they are now, even if it means more pain in the long-run. Yay for common sense.

And in some cases they wanted the defences built higher to stop future flooding in ST MARY'S MARSHES,NORTH of STROOD

Build the defences higher there and simply pass the problem further downstream to someone else.

See, this is why democracy sucks.

[J.R.P.]

Too late for objections,as reported in our local News paper on the 20-10-2005 as shown. ENVIRONMENTALISTS have urged council chiefs to put the brakes on a huge housing development for fear of its impact.
KENT GREEN PARTY insists Dartford council has nothing to lose by delaying development at EASTERN QUARRY in SWANSCOMBE to ensure facilities for the occupants of the thousands of proposed new homes materialise.
A number of concerns have been raised by the political party in a report of the development,which is the biggest in the THAMES GATEWAY.
EASTERN QUARRY was granted outline approval in July after months of negotiation.
During this process a number of comments were received from organisations but not from the KENT GREEN PARTY.
A spokesman for Dartford council said: "WE WELCOME ANY COMMENTS,BUT THEY NEED TO BE TIMELY TO BE INCLUDED IN THE PLANNING PROCESS." I HOPE THEY INCLUDE THE RISK OF FLOODING,DON'T YOU. John. JRP.

[J.R.P.]

Paving front gardens increases the risk of flooding in the capital,as reported in our local News paper November issue 2005 as shown.
LONDONERS who pave front gardens so they can park their cars are being urged to use 'green' methods to help reduce the risk of flooding.
A LONDON Assembly report shows homeowners across the capital have paved over an area equivalent to 22 Hyde Parks to give them somewhere to put their vehicles. Now the Mayor of London has called for people to think about using materials that allow water to drain into the earth.
The growing tendency to cover front gardens means rainwater has no way of naturally seeping into the ground.
Instead,it is channelled into the drainage system,which is already under pressure,increasing the risk of flooding during heavy rain. According to the LONDON ASSEMBLY REPORT, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPORTANCE,TWO THIRDS OF THE CAPITAL'S FRONT GARDENS ARE ALREADY PARTIALLY COVERED BY PAVING,BRICKS,CONCRETE OR GRAVEL.
With this in mind. I HOPE IT STOPS RAINING SOON,DON'T YOU. John. JRP.