Flood Risk on a Flood Plain: the experience in The Vale of York

In 2001 there were dreadful floods in York. A special Adjournment debate on planning guidance for developments on the flood plain in the Vale of York was called at the House of Commons. Here are some of the comments from that debate:

“How can a property owner protect land from acts of God such as floods caused by unprecedented weather that persists over several days, when the impact of that natural hazard is compounded by the actions of public authorities? The Environment Agency is looking closely at the impact on the flooding of the newly developed and recently opened park-and-ride scheme at Rawcliffe.

The floods caused 170 homes in Rawcliffe to be flooded and their occupants to be evacuated in the first week of last November. The park-and-ride scheme was deeply unpopular among residents, who resented it. The glossy, flashy consultation exercise cost many thousands of pounds, but not one resident of Rawcliffe received a leaflet about the scheme, or was consulted about it. People there could not believe their misfortune when the outcome of the consultation was to move the scheme, which had been so successful at Clifton Moor business park, to a greenbelt site at Rawcliffe. Injury has been added to insult: many of the families evacuated from the 170 homes have no realistic chance of returning for two or three months yet.

The park-and-ride scheme may have compounded the effects of the flood. Rumours that City of York council officials are to be feted, welcomed and congratulated in Downing street are especially inappropriate and insulting to residents of Rawcliffe, as the evacuees have no homes to go to.”

….. “Evidence given to the Select Committee on the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs showed that car parks and other developments can compound flood conditions. Tarmac allows water to accumulate until it is released in one big and dangerous whoosh.”

….. “In their planning policy guidance on development and flood risk, the Government absolve themselves of any statutory responsibility to make good losses to businesses, farmers or home owners. I fear that they may find the electorate unforgiving in this regard.”

…..”In its conclusions, the Select Committee recommended that only very exceptional development should be allowed in the functional flood plain. It also said that flood-proof construction techniques should be encouraged, and that sustainable drainage systems should be adopted. “ [sustainable drainage has NOT been adopted for the Seaton Regeneration area because the water table is too high before the site is built up]

“I heard today that tomorrow morning, at York race course, the Environment Agency's regional office for Yorkshire and the Humber will announce, together with the flood defence committee, a 63 per cent. increase on this year's flood levy for 2001-02. By any standards that is a massive increase--an increase of £10.7 million--and it will inevitably be passed on in an increase of at least 1 per cent. in council tax payments.”

We have been told that people on Harbour Road in Seaton (the lowest part of the area which encompasses the regeneration area) are lucky as their flood risk will improve. Why? Because the developers don't have to put flood relief channel through their site if they don't want to so they are very lucky that they are constructing the monsoon drain. Actually they are doing this for themselves and to reduce the flood risk to their own properties, not for anyone else.

God help us if the developer finds a way to build without the monsoon drain in order to get more houses on it! Literally up the creek without a paddle.

Let’s put it to the insurers of properties in Harbour Road and see what they say. By rights they should be saying: "Great - you used to have a flood plain for the water to go on straight away but now you have a 2m high island behind you and a monsoon drain, so now it goes down the road, turns left, goes through the site, turns right and goes into the river. That's MUCH better - here's 10% off your insurance premium".