This is a Friends of Lewes initiative in support of measures necessary to avoid future surface water flooding in Lewes. In line with our current Goals of improving the environment and mitigating the risks resulting from Climate Change along with increasing flows of surface runoff, the Friends of Lewes will work with partners in support of the measures agreed by the risk management authorities (RMAs).
We welcome the new Environment Agency (2020) – National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England, with its key long term aims of:
- enabling development of climate resilient places which avoid inappropriate floodplain development and use nature based solutions to address surface water runoff local to its source
- ensuring new developments and infrastructure are resilient to flooding
- developing communities ready and able to respond and adapt to flooding
We have links with The Aquifer Partnership (TAP), which is dedicated to protecting our local aquifer which holds our groundwater. TAP’s projects include making rainscapes in towns to catch pollution and hold back floodwaters:
- Rainscapes in Schools – eg: Case Study of Wallands Primary School Rainscape [pdf]
- Raingardens Campaign – creating raingardens for everyone
Friends of Lewes 25th Floods Anniversary Exhibition
Link to Flood Exhibition and reference information page
Policy on Development in the Floodplain
Following the very successful Friends of Lewes 25th Floods Anniversary Exhibition, we received a considerable amount of feedback that Lewes residents didn’t want any more homes to be built in the floodplain. In response we have developed a policy position on development in the floodplain which we have sent to the South Downs National Park Authority in response to their latest version of the SDNP Local Plan.
Read the policy here …..
The following links may be helpful in obtaining information on related topics:
1. National Flood Forum
A charity providing support for people at risk of flooding
2. Floodline for the Lower Ouse (Government Flood Warning System)
Provides current flood warning status for Lewes, and long and short term flood risks
3. Flood Resilience
- Know Your Flood Risk Campaign
- Home Owners’ Guide to Property Flood Risk
- Guidance on the permeable surfacing of front gardens (Sept 2008) From the Department for Communities and Local Government
- Guidelines on carrying out a flood risk assessment for a planning application
- Six Steps to Flood Resilience – Guidance for local authorities and professionals: Guidance from the Building Research Establishment, University of Manchester, and Manchester Metropolitan University
- The Aquifer Partnership (TAP) Rain Garden Campaign – see above
4. Reports
Chatham House (2021) – Climate Change Risk Assessment 2021. Compounding risks with devastating impacts unless action is taken immediately.
Environment Agency (2009) – River Ouse Catchment Flood Management Plan
Flood risk management policies for Lewes.
East Sussex County Council (Final Draft v3 Sept 2017) – Lewes Stage 1 Surface Water Management Plan Actions for alleviating surface water flood risk in Lewes.
Environment Agency (2020) – National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England Strategy for all risk management authorities incl the Environment Agency, lead local flood authorities, district councils, highways authorities and water and sewerage companies along with individuals, communities, businesses and infrastructure providers.
5. Flood Insurance
Memorandum of understanding between Government and Association of British Insurers 27 June 2013:
- Defra and ABI reach agreement on flood insurance
- ABI and Government agree Memorandum of Understanding on scheme to safeguard UK flood insurance
6. Climate Change Impact in the UK
- Impacts of Climate Change in the UK (15 August 2013) – brings together all government documents on this topic as a summary of information
- The Climate Change Committee – an independent statutory body providing advice to the Government on tackling climate change
- South East Climate Alliance (SECA) – a coalition of local environmental, community and faith groups from SE England, uniting for urgent action on climate change
7. launch of The Water Efficiency Campaign