People oppose development on floodplain

More than 40 people attended a public meeting at Malling Community Centre, Lewes, and formed a group, Residents Against Inappropriate Development (RAID) to oppose plans by Phoenix Quarter developer Charles Style, acting as Terracotta Property, for land to the east of the Malling Industrial Estate.

Mr Style's aim is to move businesses which are currently in the North Street area to Malling to make way for his Phoenix Quarter development which proposes 600 homes, a cinema, shops and a restaurant.

RAID is unhappy with the planning application because it claims Malling's flooding problems will be made worse by the development.

Rita Ellis from RAID said: 'The land at Malling Brooks has been a flood plain for last 200 years. 'In 2000 houses in area were under two meters of water and some people had to be taken out of their bedroom windows.

'The flood defences in Malling can't protect Malling Brooks because it is too far away.'

Mrs Ellis said the area was a basin which collected water from nearby hills and underground springs and brooks. She said residents of Orchard Road, Spences Lane and the Spinneys were worried about storm drains which they said were emptied on Malling Brooks.

Mrs Ellis said: 'Where is all that water going to go when the land has tarmac and block paving on it?' The group is also worried roads will not be able to cope with the increased traffic created by the development.

The planning application is currently being considered by Lewes District Council.

Developer Charles Style said: 'After the 2000 flood, defences were constructed by DEFRA which are designed to protect the area from a one in 200 year event, which means the residents already have the increased protection that they are requesting.

'The proposed development's flood risk assessment has been checked by the Environment Agency and shows no increase to flooding risk for the area.'