MPs claim flood defence will put eco-town at risk

Nick Herbert, the MP for Arundel and South Down, and Bognor Regis and Littlehampton MP Nick Gibb have raised fresh doubts ahead of the expected publication of the final shortlist of the sites.

The government is expected to reveal its preferred locations for the developments by Tuesday.

But Mr Herbert and Mr Gibb said the Environment Agency's intentions to weaken the area's flood defences made a Ford eco-town vulnerable to flooding.

The agency is consulting on its plans to reduce the standard of flood defences to the immediate south and east of the eco-town site by saying current measures are unaffordable.

With an increased risk of flooding on the greenfield site, earmarked for at least 5,000 new houses, the MPs believe the agency's report further undermines the financial viability of the proposal.

It had been assumed by the Ford Airfield Vision Group in its submissions the flood defences to the south and east of the proposed eco-town would provide protection against at least a one-in-200 year event.

But the Environment Agency is proposing to abandon that level of protection. On the west bank of the River Arun, between the A259 and the Ford railway bridge, the protection will be reduced to a one-in-66 year standard and there is to be a total lack of formal flood defence protection at Climping.

Mr Herbert commented: "The case for the eco-town continues to fall apart.

The government should drop Ford from the shortlist and allow Arun District Council to pursue its plans for meeting the housing needs of local people in the district."

Mr Gibb commented: "This is a classic case of bureaucratic confusion. One part of the government is recommending abandoning a crucial part of the Sussex coastline, which we have to fight against.

"Another part of this government is proposing to build 5,000 houses in the area that would be more liable to flooding as a result of abandoning the coastline."

What do you think? Click here to send a letter to [email protected] or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news

Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news

Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map.

MAP