Flooding and Coastal Erosion in England

The CLA believes that local solutions are an essential part of the battle against flooding and coastal erosion.

We will urge the Government to consider innovative, good-value local plans wherever possible.

Read the full press release on the Flood and Water Management Bill.

News

Protocol for the maintenance of flood and coastal risk management assets - England only (20 December 2011)

The reduction of maintenance by the Environment Agency is a very difficult and concerning problem that is rearing its head more and more in fluvial situations as the current policy is rolled out. Unfortunately, what comes with this issue is the realisation that the Government has no statutory duty to maintain flood defence.

Withdrawal of maintenance is a problem right across the board, even in areas where there are Internal Drainage Boards (IDB’s). The systematic reduction of maintenance to pumping stations in many lowland areas with or without a drainage board is having a significant impact, along with general maintenance reduction of ditches and outfalls, on land use.

Throughout 2010 the Environment Agency (EA) have been preparing a document that tries to guide private landowners through the procedures when maintenance is being withdrawn from sea and fluvial defences.

The document is called Protocol for the maintenance of flood and coastal risk management assets (England only) 2011 .

The CLA were consulted during the development process and made some strong representations to try and make this document a one stop shop for advice on flood defence issues. It does not quite go that far but does set out much needed guidance on the responsibilities the Environment Agency and landowners under the current policy

Meeting with the Environment Agency.

The CLA met with Environment Agency to discuss common concerns about flooding. The CLA believes landowners need to be empowered to carry out necessary works on flood defences in areas where there is deterioration and the public purse can no longer afford maintenance costs. (January 2010)

Meeting with Nick Herbert.

In January 2010, the CLA met Nick Herbert, then Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, and his advisers to explain how regulations and the policy framework could be altered to help landowners who are willing to spend on flood defences, to the benefit of the public. We gave examples of how coastal communities had been helped in the past.

CLA Flood and Coastal Erosion Policy

Flooding and coastal erosion are a crucial issue for thousands of blighted rural households and businesses. And most of the UK's best soils are less than five metres above the mean high water level. We lobby for this land to be protected to ensure food security. We press for spending and legislative change which is fair for rural areas.

The CLA calls on the Government to:

• Use defences based on active management of natural processes and soft engineering techniques,
• Manage the realignment of coasts and rivers under voluntary agreements with landowners,
• Allow landowners to maintain defences, and
• Review the cost/benefit formulas so they include the value of land, communities, heritage and food security.

For example, incentives are needed to reinstate wetland areas upstream of towns. These would hold water during heavy rain, reducing flooding and helping the environment. New washlands could reduce the effects of river flooding downstream.

The Background

• The eastern side of England is sinking (isostatic adjustment) by about 1.5 mm per year,
• Sea levels are rising by around 4.5 mm per year,
• This gives a relative sea level rise of 6 mm per year for the East Anglian coast,
• and along with this, weather patterns seem to be bringing greater storminess and flash flooding.

But Defra’s flood plans are based on a worst-case scenario where sea levels rise by more than one metre. On this assumption many defences will be unsustainable and a policy of retreat should be adopted.

Our view is that until we can be more certain of the future, we should adopt a precautionary principle and retain and maintain existing defences.

We also believe that the alternative to hard defences is not abandonment. Much more could be done in the way of soft defences, beach re-charging and other techniques, to stabilise the coastline.

The CLA is trying to encourage Defra to look seriously at innovative new technology for flood defence from around the world.

Defra is giving more weight to environmental factors and less to economic and social factors in its management of flood and coastal-erosion risk.

It is moving from a policy of "hold the line" to "no active intervention" or "retreat" in many rural areas. Large urban areas will continue to be defended from flooding.

Present priorities for spending are largely based on the number of houses at risk and environmental considerations.

They take little account of lost land and lost ability to produce future food, of salt water on inland water used for drinking and irrigation, historic features and business and community assets. Yet once a coastline is lost, it is gone forever.

The way the limited pot of money for flood and sea defences is spent results in a poor deal for rural areas and isolated villages.

Total spending on flood and coastal risk management is currently (in 2010/11) £780 million per year. Figures from the Environment Agency show at least £1 billion a year is required. Only a small percentage is spent maintaining flood defences and keeping waterways flowing freely.

Where it is not feasible to defend the coast, we are fighting for compensation for those whose land, businesses or homes will be lost for the greater public benefit.

For examples of CLA responses on catchment flood and shorline management plans, see:

Example 1: Shoreline Management Plans

Example 2: Catchment Flood Management Plan for the Great Ouse

The CLA's thoughts on imaginative responses to flooding, together with members’ views of the causes and effects of the floods, can be read in our response to the Government’s review of the 2007 floods.

The CLA is working with the National Farmers' Union and the Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group on a project (funded by Defra’s innovation fund) to explore economic alternatives for coastal landowners.

The project is being undertaken on the Essex coast but will have implications for all areas of coast that will cease to be maintained by the Government. Details of this project can be viewed on it: www.managingcoastalchange.co.uk.

CLA Documents

Download the CLA’s alternative 10-point plan for Flood and Coastal Defence

CLA's Response to the Defra Inquiry into flooding

CLA Conference in Norfolk, (March 2004)
Sea-level Rise and Coastal Defence in the Southern North Sea