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Boardwalk :: Forum List The Phoenix Quarter General Discussion

steven s.   flood wall - 2006/06/27 05:08 Charles Style has changed his mind several times about what flood defences will be proposed. Either a grassy bank or a wall is proposed, do we know which is the latest offering? If it is a large removeable gate, does anyone know where it would be kept, how it would be installed as a flood appears, who would do this, and who would maintain this? I am also intrigued to know how this would all fit around the trees in the park, and how water is prevented from gushing down the railway line, like it did last time. Any ideas anyone?   | | You must login if you wish to contribute to this forum. michael   Re:flood wall - 2006/06/27 12:24 The original model offered by WS Atkins did not address the matter of the flooding via the railway line and neither did it address the flooding through the drainage systems in place. This was new information to them and they have yet to incorporate into any of the more recent variations on the theme of flood defence. The most recent offering is a bund which varies in its top height and has either a detachable flood defence all the way along with detachable uprights and panels. There are those with expertise on trees who say that the bund will kill all the trees (presumably the two cannot coexist as the bund needs to be undisturbed by tree growth). The other options under consideration include various combinations of fixed and detachable sections in order to minimise visual impact down Talbot Terrace. None of those on offer address the issue of the protection of the Pells Pool nor of any other areas in Lewes as the water has to go somewhere if there is a flood. The questions as to who will resource and manage the demountable sections of the flood protection are yet to be resolved and given the apparent flexibility in the design process, there can be no concrete information to inform any risk assessment or operational plan for the emergency services at this time. We all know how regularly we were on flood alert after the last flood, and that this seemed to increase when there were criticisms of response times etc. Will there be additional resourcing to the fire service (and where will they be located if there is no fire station locally post development? Who will be accountable and who will be liable if the flood defence does not work and what protection will there be re insurance premiums if householders and businesses are placed at greater risk from the additional building on the flood plain? so many questions and so little time   | | You must login if you wish to contribute to this forum. AJD   Re:flood wall - 2006/06/29 13:25 At last week's meeting of the Town Council which was attended by Catherine D'Arrcy, Marco Crivello and me as observers, the subject of operation of any demountable flood protection equipment was discussed briefly. Steve Brigden, Town Clerk, revealed intriguingly that he had been in touch with the Fire Service who would be prepared to take on this role. Anthony.   | | You must login if you wish to contribute to this forum. C M Darcy   Re:flood wall - 2006/06/29 19:57 However, there are many issues which Steve Brigden would appear to have under control but which might require further investigation. The local firemen we have since spoken to seem to be very uncertain that they'd have time to assemble demountable barriers which are understandably substantial and require heavy lifting equipment. Mr Style in an interview on the radio told us that that the fire brigade often had "two or three days notice" of a flood. Not in our experience. We might also question who funds these exercises and who would make the decision to erect the barriers? At the current rate, we have two flood alerts each year at the times of extra high tide. Presumably the barriers would have to go up and come down each time. Would the insurance companies insist on this and if not who would be prepared to make the decision that it wasn't necessary? Surely the decision maker would rather err on the side of caution and insist they went up. This would not be a cheap exercise and should funds run low in the future, how likely is it that this process might become too contentious and unaffordable so the temporary barriers would then be erected permanently leaving us with the worst possible visual outcome. When Mr Brigden advises the Town Council as to which flood measure might be preferable, we hope that these are some of the questions that will be addressed by our Councillors.   | | You must login if you wish to contribute to this forum. RBB   Re:flood wall - 2006/07/11 04:47 Is there any explanation of how a flood barrier would stop water from coming from the railway line?   | | You must login if you wish to contribute to this forum.

Boardwalk :: Forum List The Phoenix Quarter General Discussion

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