'Don't rock the boat on flood work'

LOCAL authorities and pressure groups alike have reservations about the proposed flood defence measures for Lewes but don't want to rock the boat by actively opposing them.

Lewes District Council welcomes the proposals but says more is needed to protect the economic and social life of vulnerable parts of the town.

It is urging the Flood Defence Committee to amend its proposals to give 1-in-200 year protection to the areas of the Cliffe and Town Centre West by raising the proposed river walls.

Said council leader Cllr Ann De Vecchi: 'The additional height in Cliffe would be only between one-third and one-half a metre, but it would give a huge extra measure of protection to this vulnerable area.'

The council is also for additional protection for Landport, North Malling, Malling Deanery and parts of Barcombe and Hamsey.

Added Cllr De Vecchi: 'The district council, as landlord of 25 of the 40 homes at Landport that suffered flooding, will make a financial contribution to protect those properties.'

East Sussex County County is deeply unhappy about the way the flood defences are funded 65 per cent Government money and 35 per cent locally.

It believes flooding is a national problem which should be solved entirely with Government funds.

The council supports the strategy with reservations as a step forward for protection of some local communities.

But the proposals, it says, will leave continued uncertainty in some areas at flood risk.,

Pressure group Lewes Flood Action believes there are a number of unsatisfactory aspects in the report on future Lewes flood defences.

Major concerns centre on the way the damage is costed.

Said spokesman John Clark: 'It is extremely complicated and ridiculous.

'All anyone needs to know is that for the cost-benefit ratio, damage to Lewes is put at 34 million, whereas the EA's own estimate after the flood was 60 to 70 million and it's probably higher than that.

'A further point we consider unfair is that an area such as Malling which receives very high points is kept in its own cell and the benefit is in no way spread to important areas such as Malling Deanery and Landport.'

Lewes Flood Action says almost nothing has been done to address the question of how to provide down-river storage, and the group regards this as essential for the full working of the plan.

However Mr Clark added: 'Despite our reservations, it is felt absolutely imperative that nothing must done by the people of Lewes to slow the various stages of the plan - notably securing the full DEFRA grant and doing everything possible to force East Sussex County Council to come up with the required levy.

'When the work starts it will still be possible to lobby for more funds.'