Water Management
 

Is it possible to get more information regarding the plans for flood defences within the area? There doesn't seem to be any on the Essex or Braintree Council sites.

Whilst there are snippets within the Minutes section of this site there isn't a clear picture of what's happening, for example:
- what is the expected completion date of the various projects?
- what key milestones have been reached/are yet to be reached?
- what are the hurdles that need to be overcome?
- what is the greater crested newt study & what happens if the outcome is unfavourable?

Knowing that things are progressing may help me to relax a bit more next time it buckets down with rain!

A brief summary of the situation
 

The only true solution to the problem of 'flash flooding' is the creation of holding reservoirs to retain the water and then release it slowly.

This means there is somewhere 'for the water to go' in the short periods of very heavy rain rather than to flood the 'Swan' and 'Sugar Loaves' ends of the village. The streams at each end, which history has shown cannot deal with such a deluge of water, drain quite large areas of land - the 'catchment areas' - and it is in these areas that the holding reservoirs need to be created; one at the Swan end and two at the Sugar Loaves end.

The land therefore has to be purchased from the landowners and this is the process that is going on at the moment. The £500,000 needed for the Sugar Loaves end has already been earmarked by Essex County Council in the coming year's budget and hopefully the scheme should go ahead when the remaining problems have been sorted out.

One of these problems - perhaps unfortunely - is the greater crested newt which apparently comes back to its homing ground once a year to breed. This, it seems, occurs at the end of January and into February. It appears that they then have to be identified and, if their presence is confirmed, they have to be moved to another site!! I think that is right, but if you need more exact information you would need to contact the Environment Agency or the ECC. We have no say in the matter. We - like you - just have to wait and see!

With global warming now a serious issue there is a very real danger of freak weather patterns and 'flash floods'. We therefore feel that the above flood prevention matters should be addressed with great urgency. We just have to hope that the various agencies give it the attention it so clearly needs. Many people in Sible Hedingham have suffered enough already.

Dr Norman Edwards
Water Management Committee
Sible Hedingham Parish Council

Update
 

Thank you Dr Edwards for your response.

I have taken your advice and followed up with the Environment Agency.

I have discovered that the flood defences at the Sugar Loaves end of the village are under the control of the ECC Highways Agency as the culvert does not constitute a river. The defences at the Swan end of the village are managed by the EA.

Regarding the defences at the Sugar Loaves end of the village:

- The Highways Agency advise that the relocation of the Greater Crested Newt population will delay the start to around July/August this year.

- Plans are yet to go to the District planning office for approval which may of course delay implementation if there are any issues.

- Negotiations with landowners have begun and seem to be progressing well.

- If construction begins in July and goes according to plan the works will be completed around October.

All the above is subject to delays but at least it gives a rough idea of timescales if the scheme proceeds according to plan.

Water Management
 

Paul - Thankyou for chasing up the further information on the Greater Crested newt and the proposed start times. Ted Snarey - the Chairman of the Water Mangement Committee - is attending a Flood Defence Committee meeting next week. The Flood Defence Committee is the one that includes all the 'leading players'- ECC, Env' Agency, Highways etc - if any further info comes out of that I will post it on this site - Dr Edwards.

Water Management
 

I felt it would be useful to point out that the contractors for the BDC have made an excellent job of clearing the drain at the edge of the field at the bottom of Alderford Street opposite the mill. The drain is important as it takes away the water from the bottom of Alderford Street (in a flood situation) into the river downstream of the mill. By this route the water gets away much quicker than from the stream entering the river upstream of the mill.
We are grateful to Peter Tattersley at the BDC for putting this work in hand so promptly - Dr Edwards(P.C.)

Water Management
 

Anybody got any update as to timescales of completion of the defences?

I'll answer my own question!!

The plans for the defences (the Sugar Loaves end of the village) are currently with the planners and will be for the next couple of weeks. If there aren't any problems with the planning aspect of the project it is anticipated that the work should commence Sept/Oct with completion around Jan/Feb '06.

Paul - It's good to see that you are so 'on the ball' with regard to these matters and your info is always very useful. As regards the Parish Council we only received the plans for the holding reservoirs quite recently and we have needed to await developments at the County Council to know when the final decision on the planning application will be made. I contacted them yesterday and it has been decided that the application will need to go to 'Committee' because of one or two issues that have been raised and that it will come before the Committee on the 23rd September. It is more of a formality and they do not envisage any signicant problems arising but there may be one or two minor issues to sort out. The 'go ahead' - for definite - should therefore come about on the 23rd Sept!!
Sorry that we have appeared to be tardy in our replies but there always seems to be long delays in these matters. Thankyou for your interest.
Norman Edwards - Member of Water Management Committee.

Flooding In Church Street Near Public House
 

Hello
I am considering buying a bungalow located in Church Street. It has been refurbished due to flood damage, speaking to a few local people they said that there was a serious flood here about 2 years ago, however they also said that this was unusual in this part of Sible Hedingham. I was wondering if it is true that this is a rare occurrance and also if the modifications (reservoirs) that you are planning to do will also have a beneficial effect on the prospects of no more floods in Church street. You can understand that I do not want to invest a lot of time and money into rennovating a property only to see it all ruined. Your advice will be very much appreciated, I do not live in the area but what I have seen I like. :confused:
Thank you.
Gordon.

The holding reservoirs should hopefully resolve any problems in Church Street and they should get the 'go-ahead' in September. However it may be helpful to have a chat on the 'phone. I will let the clerk know and if you ring the Parish Council office and leave a message he will let you have my telephone number. Telephone 01787 462568.
Norman Edwards - Water Management.