Policy Statement
1.1 Purpose
This policy statement has been prepared by Market Weighton Drainage Board to provide a public statement of the Board's approach to the management of land drainage, flood risk and water levels in the Market Weighton Drainage District.
1.2 Background
The Department of the Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has policy responsibility for flood and coastal defence in England. Delivery of the service is the responsibility of a number of flood and coastal defence 'operating authorities' which includes the Market Weighton Drainage Board. This Board is an Internal Drainage Board (IDB) established by Act of Parliament. The extent of land drainage infrastructure maintained by the Board is shown at para 3.7 below.
1.3 Government has published a policy aim together with three objectives for flood and coastal defence ¹. Also, in order to facilitate a more certain delivery of the Governments national policy aim and strategy by individual operating authorities DEFRA has published a series of high level targets ². The first target requires each operating authority to publish a policy statement setting out its plans for delivering the Government's policy aim and objectives in its own area of responsibility. This includes an assessment of the risk of flooding in the area, and what plans the operating authority has for reducing that risk. This policy statement fulfils that requirement.
1.4 The Board will provide a copy of the policy statement to the Department of the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Environment Agency, and local authorities in the district. Copies are also available from the Market Weighton Drainage Board offices at Burnby Hall, Pocklington, York, YO42 2QF. (Tel. 01759 302115)
2. HOW THE BOARD WILL DELIVER THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY AIM AND OBJECTIVES.
2.1 Market Weighton Drainage Board acknowledges and supports the Government's aim and objectives for flood and coastal defence. The Board's policy and approach will be consistent with these aims and objectives, as follows:
Policy Aim
"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".
Section 3 below sets out the plan for reducing or managing flood risk in the internal drainage district administered by Market Weighton Drainage Board.
Objective (a)
"To encourage the provision of adequate and cost effective flood warning systems".
The Board will assist the Environment Agency wherever possible in its provision of adequate and cost effective flood warning systems. It will co-operate with the Agency in response to flood emergencies and will, if required, participate 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".
- In meeting its obligations the Board will consider its activities within the wider natural and developed environment and will seek to minimise any adverse impact. It will co-operate with other operating authorities and other relevant organisations in seeking to ensure that adverse impacts on the drainage district do not arise as a result of other activities.
- The Board will endeavour to carry out its maintenance and improvement works in an efficient, cost effective and environmentally sympathetic manner. It will, where appropriate, use best practice and will access appropriately qualified advice when necessary.
- In order to achieve this the Board will encourage the provision of adequate, economically, technically and environmentally sound and sustainable flood protection and water level management measures, and will also seek to influence the control of any development which could increase the risk of flooding.
- By definition all land within the drainage district is potentially at some risk of damage by flooding or waterlogging. The Board will seek to contain this risk at acceptable levels through appropriate improvement works, and the implementation of a sound maintenance strategy. It will also seek to ensure that the Environment Agency continues to maintain at a satisfactory standard any main river and estuary flood defences which protect the district, and for which the Agency is responsible.
- The Board recognises the potential impact of global warming and climate change on the flood defence and land drainage infrastructure. It will seek to address these issues in consultation with the Environment Agency.
Objective (c)
"To discourage inappropriate development in areas at risk from flooding".
The potential impact on flood risk through future development in the drainage district, or in the wider catchment draining to the district, is fully recognised by the Board. The Board will take an active roll in the assessment of structure planning, local plans and individual applications to ensure that flood risk is not significantly increased. This being dependant on the local planning authority providing the appropriate information for consideration. Where appropriate the Board will seek to secure from Developers, and other direct beneficiaries, contributions to cover the cost of both immediate and longer term works which the Board may deem necessary in ensuring that any potential increase in flood risk is reduced. Alternatively the Board will seek to impose on Developers conditions requiring appropriate restrictions on the flow of water from developments where these might otherwise exceed the capacity of existing local watercourses.
3. ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF THE RISK OF FLOODING OR WATERLOGGING IN THE BOARD'S DRAINAGE DISTRICT
Flood Defence and Land Drainage Responsibilities
3.1 Market Weighton Drainage Board is the relevant operating authority for flood defence on ordinary watercourses situated within the Market Weighton Drainage District.
3.2 The Environment Agency is the relevant operating authority for flood defence on designated main rivers, and the Humber estuary.
3.3 Culverts under roads are generally the responsibility of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, or the Highways Agency. Culverts under railways are the responsibility of Railtrack. Culverts under private access roads are generally the responsibility of the riparian owner. There may be exceptions to this.
3.4 Generally all flood defence and land drainage works carried out by the Board are undertaken using permissive powers as set down in the Land Drainage Act 1991. This means that the Board is not obliged to carry out any flood defence or land drainage works, but may do so at its discretion. It is important to note that, except for its own adopted network of main arterial drainage channels, the Board does not accept responsibility for maintenance of any watercourse through private land. This falls the responsibility of the riparian owner. The Board may exercise its powers of supervision, which apply to all ordinary watercourses, to ensure that adequate standards of maintenance prevail throughout the district.
3.5 The Board will freely offer advice to its Ratepayers on matters relevant to the local land drainage and flood defence system whenever it considers it appropriate to do so. The Board cannot, however, accept any legal liability for the adequacy or correctness of any advice or information so provided although any such advice will be offered in good faith.
3.6 Key Details
As mentioned in Section 2, the entire district is at risk to flooding but that risk is substantially controlled although varying standards of protection will apply. The following are the key details of the District:
Catchment Area draining to and including the District 31970 Ha
Total area of the District 19557 Ha
Area of Agricultural Land 18433 Ha
Other land including property, highways etc. 1124 Ha
Sites of Designated Environmental Interest
Wetland SSSI 12 Ha
Heathland SSSI 47 Ha
Nature Reserve 79 Ha
3.7 Board Maintained Infrastructure
Pumping Stations 9 No.
Other Water level Control Structures 30 No.
Watercourses (total adopted) 193 km
Critical Watercourses 0 km
Raised Embankments 7.1 km
3.8 Environment Agency Maintained Infrastructure
Passing through or adjacent to the District are the following assets maintained by the Environment Agency
Main Rivers (some critical) 28.4 km
River Flood Defences 21.5 km
Sea and Tidal Defences 11.2 km
3.9 Regulation of Activities
The Board will as it considers necessary exercise its powers under the Land Drainage Act 1991 and its Byelaws to ensure that activities in and alongside the drainage system do not reduce flood protection standards or unnecessarily increase flood risk.
3.10 Standard of Protection
Through the operation and maintenance of the pumping stations together with the main arterial drainage channel network the Board will 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 cannot be taken literally and should be considered as a chance of some over spilling from the system taking place each year as being 5% and 1% respectively.
Areas which are more vulnerable due to particular local circumstances are noted as being;
a) Land situated immediately alongside the River Foulness which forms part of the natural river flood plain.
3.11 Management of Flood Risks
The Board monitors the condition of its pumping stations and watercourses, particularly those designated as critical, over spilling from which could affect property. A routine maintenance programme is in place consistent with established need to ensure that the condition of assets is commensurate with the standards of protection which are sought. Where standards are not at policy level, improvement works will be considered and undertaken, as the Board deems necessary.
The Board welcomes comments from its agricultural ratepayers, special levy council, and members of the public, regarding the condition of the land drainage system problems relating to which could lead to increased flood risk.
3.12 Public Awareness
The Board will seek to promote the need for works in its district and to create a rational understanding among people who live and work in the area as to what constitutes flood risk and the efforts made to control such risk. It will also seek to achieve directly, and through local councils, a culture within which watercourses and drainage channels are seen as vital to controlling flood risk. At the same time it will encourage the development of bio diverse aquatic habitat, and will dissuade abuse of watercourses through dumping waste or obstructing flows in other ways. The Board will publish its proposed annual programme of capital and maintenance work. This programme will be available by arrangement for inspection at the offices of the Board.
4.1 The Board has nature conservation duties under the Land Drainage Act 1991, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and as a competent authority under the Conservation (Natural Habitats C) Regulation 1994. The Board will endeavour to fulfil these obligations in a positive way.
4.2 Much of the Board's watercourse maintenance work consisting of vegetation control and de-silting is a vital and routine requirement. Whilst inevitably some short-term impact will arise from this work such watercourse management is essential to maintain diverse aquatic habitat in the district. The Board maintains only a proportion of the total length of watercourses in the district, the significant majority being the responsibility of the riparian landowners.
4.3 When carrying out works, be it for maintenance or improvement, and consistent with the need to maintain satisfactory flood protection standards, the Board will aim to:
- avoid any unnecessary or long term damage to natural habitats
- ensure no net loss of habitats covered by Biodiversity Action Plans, monitoring any gains and losses and reporting annually to the Environment Agency.
- take appropriate opportunities to enhance habitats.
4.4 The Board will play its full role in sustaining the water level management plan prepared for the catchment which includes the SSSI, and in conjunction with English Nature and other interested parties will review the plan in accordance with DEFRA guidance.
5. PARTNERSHIPS AND REVIEW OF POLICY STATEMENT
5.1 The Board has set out its approach to flood defence, land drainage, and water level management collectively referred to as flood risk management. It recognises the need to work in partnership with Central Government, the Environment Agency, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, other operating authorities, and other relevant interested organisations. It believes that the local population has an important part to play in recognising the vital importance of watercourses in controlling flood risk and the need to avoid blockages whether by dumping of rubbish or by obstructing flows in other ways. The Board seeks the co-operation of its ratepayers, and the general public, in informing the Board of any problems, nuisances, or damage, which have potential to increase flood risk.
5.2 In March 2005 Government published its first response to the consultation exercise on ‘Making Space for Water’3. This document establishes the strategic direction for flood risk management over the next 20 years. The strategy will adopt a more holistic catchment based approach to achieving a better balance between the three pillars of sustainable development (economic, social and environmental). The Board will cooperate in the delivery of the strategy for ‘Making Space for Water’ as it evolves.
5.3 In its review of High Level Targets (HLTs) 4 published in March 2005 DEFRA has set out its intentions for further review of IDB institutional and administrative arrangements. For this purpose it is engaging consultants who will advise on these arrangements and how well each IDB fits into a broad model of how IDBs should be operating in the present day. This will take into account such issues as IDB membership and structures, their openness and accessibility, access to specialist advice (including on environmental issues), as well as whether individual Boards would benefit from changed management arrangements. The Board will cooperate with DEFRA and its consultants in carrying out this task.
5.4 The Market Weighton Drainage Board will review this Policy Statement within a period of 5 years. Meanwhile, the Board welcomes any comments on the approach and policies set out in this statement.
Policy Statement issued by order of the Market Weighton Drainage Board dated; 9th August 2005
References:
¹ Strategy for Flood and Coastal Defence in England and Wales; - published by MAFF and Welsh Office, September 1993
² High Level Targets for Flood and Coastal Defence Operating Authorities and Elaboration of the Environment Agency's Flood Supervisory Duty - published by MAFF, November 1999.
3 Making Space for Water – taking forward a new Government Strategy for flood risk management – published by DEFRA, March 2005.
4 New High Level Targets for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management – published by DEFRA, March 2005.
Glossary of Terms:
1. The Board - Market Weighton Drainage Board.
2. Operating Authority - Body responsible for flood defence in a specific situation.
3. IDB - Internal Drainage Board.
4. DEFRA - Department of the Environment Food & Rural Affairs.
5. ERYC - East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
6. SSSI - Nature conservation Site of Special Scientific Interest.
7. Drainage District - Area of low-lying land which benefits from flood protection and land drainage as specified by DEFRA. Normally administered by IDB.
8. Catchment Area - The wider area of land which drains into and across the drainage district.
9. Main River - Primary drainage channel maintained directly by the Environment Agency.
10. Ordinary Watercourse - Any watercourse which is not classified as main river.
11. Critical Watercourse - A watercourse agreed with the Environment Agency as being critical because it has the potential to put at risk from flooding large numbers of people and property.
12. Adopted Network - The Board has adopted for maintenance the main arterial network of drainage channels. This means that the Board maintains directly at its own expense those watercourses which reach out to serve most parts of the district, and into which water from private tributary drains flows before reaching main river.
13. Riparian Owner - The owner or occupier (depending on tenancy agreement) of the land adjoining the watercourse. The responsible riparian owner is generally taken to be the landowner on whose side any mature hedge is situated. In the case of a natural stream riparian ownership may extend to centreline.
14. Return Period (Flood risk) - The long-term average length of time between flood events occurring (e.g. 1 in 20 years). Alternatively expressed as a percentage chance of flooding occurring in any one year.