Minutes:
· Mr Harbridge spoke in detail of flooding in Church Street, Walmer arising from surface water run-off and flash floods and the effects on blocked sewers and gullies resulting in sewer covers coming off causing extra hazards. Bow waves from traffic driving through flood water further damaged properties. KCC provided little help apart from sandbags; DDC helped with gullies; the police cordoned off areas; and Southern Water was assisting by cleaning sewers and making plans to remedy the situation. There appeared to be no current budget for proposed multi-million pound schemes but a funding bid for 2010-15 had been put in to OFWAT, however there was no ‘Plan B’ if this bid failed. Church Street should be a priority and an update on the funding bid was expected in January 2010. Why had KCC not undertaken remodelling work at junction of Church Road to prevent storm surge as was happening right now at the Dover Road/Cornwall Road junction? Mike Tomlinson advised that the funding bid was a complex process and customers’ views on willingness to contribute to the scheme were required first. When funding had been secured, capital schemes could be determined as part of the business plan and prioritised later. No update could be expected before January 2010. Cllr. Kit Smith reported on an earlier meeting held with Cllr Julie Rook and Kent Highways which confirmed that the problems were known to Highways who had promised a CCTV survey of this area. Mike Tomlinson explained that roles and responsibilities between agencies were unclear and changes of personnel did not help the situation. Similar problems were experienced in Manor Road where mitigation measures had been tried including installing an additional drainage system.
· Mr Derek Murray thanked all parties for bringing this topic to the Forum for discussion and referred to the many years of suffering from the problems identified. He hoped that the new KCC Councillors would be able to take action. No drains had been cleared in Church Lane for the last 15 years and immediate action was necessary before householders were refused insurance on flood risk grounds. Cllr Kit Smith reported that the meeting referred to earlier had discussed the number of gullied cleaned over the previous 6 year period and Highways had produced spreadsheets showing 70% clearance in 2004, 90% on 2005, 95% in 2006, 99% in 2007 and 80% in 2008. As these figures were hotly disputed by members of the public Cllr Smith undertook to investigate further and to ask for copies of the spreadsheets to be made available in the Town Hall for residents to examine.
· Mr David Reid referred to the effects of fallen leaves on blocking gullies, increased surface water run-off as a result of development, and storm water tanks being installed in Milldale Close and under Victoria Park. Even after these measures had been taken back-flushing still occurred which indicated other underlying problems in the same area. Cllr Friend added that similar problems were experienced in Middle Deal Road, Albert Road, Mill Hill, Church Street and Southwall Road and asked whether Southern Water would recommend no further development in these areas to avoid exacerbating the flooding problem. Mike Tomlinson responded that action was being taken to clean gullies in Church Street and work on Albert Road was ongoing with DDC and KCC, some of the problems had been rectified. Although Southern Water saw some planning applications it was not a statutory consultee but did advise the planning authority of sewerage limitations at development sites.
· Mr Reid also referred to a separate problem on the beach was caused by longshore drift and Paul Marshall advised that this did not occur on the stretch between Sandown Castle and Sandwich Bay. A project appraisal report had been compiled for submission to DEFRA in order to gain funding and Adam Schofield, Project Manager, Environment Agency reported on shingle volume, groyne replacement, more substantial rock revetments, and the addition of a low wave wall, all of which were in the planning stages. It would be 2-3 years before construction started and the wave wall would be of differing heights reflecting the beach profile. The Agency would seek public opinion on the wall and an open forum event was planned for 8 December 2009 in the Town Hall, Deal running from 2.00 to 8.00pm, at which plans could be viewed and discussed.
· What was happening about the breaches in the sea wall on the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) at Kingsdown? Roger Walton advised that the Kingsdown Rifle range land was owned by the MoD which had no plans to deal with the matter. Natural England proposed that erosion would allow restoration of the natural cliff in the area.
· Details and locations of blocked and unpleasant smelling drains should be emailed directly to Ken.Rawson@kent.gov.uk and Cllr Kit Smith would monitor the situation, reporting back in due course. In addition he would find out who actually undertook the work. Cllr Eddy advised that there had been 2 separate drain cleanings in the previous year: Mill Hill/St Richards Road and Salisbury Road.
· What provision would be made in the proposed sea defences to allow surface water run off to be drained out to sea? Paul Marshall advised that all such schemes had outflows and the levels of surface water would be evaluated to allow for upgrading as necessary in line with climate change predictions.
· There used to be three gulley clearing machines operating all the time – what had become of them? The Chairman undertook to find out and report back together with details of the cleaning programme.
· DDC’s Local Development Framework (LDF) documents showed potential development sites in Zone 3 flood risk areas. As the Environment Agency had to apply to DEFRA for funding and would not expect to receive any for 2 years what measures could be taken to avoid flooding as had happened in 1978? Also CPRE had said that flood defences were not adequate for the next 100 years so what would happen if the sea wall were breached? Finally what impact would the increased wetland at Lydden valley have? Adam Schofield responded that climate change measures for the next 50 years were built in and would be reassessed in the future; 100 years could be excessive. Cllr Kit Smith reported on a meeting held in Worth about allowing adjacent wetland to be used to absorb flooding which would result in slightly higher water levels in dykes whilst most water would gather in the centre of the site where coal had previously been extracted. The Environment Agency representatives were unable to assist with projected results of possible sea wall breaches as this was not their field of expertise but advised that the wetlands would cease to be drained agriculturally before the land was handed over to the RSPB. The wetland area between Hacklinge pump to Sandwich including the Great Stour was a controlled system in which all channels would be cleaned.
· Drainage work in Deal in the 1970s had used 5ft diameter pipes when 9ft diameter ones should have been used to accommodate the flow. Mike Tomlinson suggested that in the 1960s 5ft pipes would have been considered adequate and, subsequently, tanks had been installed in Victoria Park and Albert Road. Southern Water had investigated the system in the 90s and undertaken extensive work which had not solved all of the problems. Better tools existed now to assess, analyse problems and find solutions, e.g. computer modelling for effects on catchment areas. The pumping station had been updated so that surface water went through to Weatherlees pumping station rather than straight out to sea and special consent had to be obtained before overflow could be discharged to sea. Blocked drains were cleaned with high-pressure water jets and broken pipework investigated for repair. A business plan had been submitted to OFWAT for funding for repair works and the public needed to keep reporting problems so that a full picture could be built up, the individual problems fully understood and appropriate action taken.
· Long-shore drift caused pebble erosion on the beaches and an active programme of shingle replacement was in place. Wellington Parade was closely monitored, works had already been carried out there and would be repeated in February/March.