Agency urged to tackle North Bersted flooding worries

Chris Bulpitt, who has lived in the area for three decades, raised worries the 750 homes being constructed at Site 6 in the village and proposals for 2,500 homes at Chalcraft Lane could present a significant flood threat.

She said: "As a resident of this area for the past 35 years I am very concerned at the amount of surface water flooding in the past few weeks, water levels across the fields are the highest I have seen.

"The rife north of Rowan Way has flooded across the adjacent fields, at the site where the relief road is planned. Some houses in Addison Way have water reaching to their garden fences.

"The culvert running under Rowan Way is at its peak. Last week water was pouring out of a drain in Clydesdale Gardens and a resident was unable to flush his downstairs toilet."

Mrs Bulpitt added: "North Bersted Street has been closed last week because of flooding. At the same time, less than a mile away building work continues on 750 houses and roads.

"I am concerned that when a large area of land close by is concreted over with houses, roads and garages this flooding will be even worse.

"Considering how much worse the surface flooding is since the building has started what level will it reach when all the building work is finished?"

She also said her letter to the Environment Agency was met with a response directing her to Arun District Council as it believed the issue was one of surface water flooding.

Councillor Ann Smee, of Bersted Parish Council has also recently raised the issue as being of major concern to the council and residents.

A spokesman for Arun District Council said the flooding of the fields north of Rowan Way is due to its being an area of natural flood plain adjacent to the Aldingbourne Rife.

He said: "It is effectively the 'safety valve' in times of high flows in the rife which allows water to be temporarily stored until the levels reduce and the system can cope with the flow.

"The proposed housing, in the development at North Bersted, is located outside of the flood zones 2 and 3 as indicated on the Environment Agency flood maps.

"However, if the developed site was allowed to drain directly into the watercourses in the area, then the flows in those watercourses and the rife would increase at times of heavy rainfall.

"For this reason the surface water drainage system on the new development will include a pond which will allow for temporary storage of water."

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