COUNCIL MEETING, 20 FEBRUARY 2003

REPORT OF THE

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

Environment

Part II

FLOODING IN HAMBLEDON

1. Hampshire is once again in the throes of dealing with incidences of flooding throughout the county as a result of heavy rainfall and high groundwater levels caused by the unique geological conditions of the region. This follows on from the serious and prolonged flooding Hampshire experienced during the winter of 2000/01 due to the highest rainfall for 230 years over a three month period. Interestingly, the only other region in Europe known to suffer from similar conditions of high groundwater are parts of Belgium.

2. The village of Hambledon has a history of intermittent flooding over the last century, with the most recent events being in 1994, 1995 and 2000. The 2000/01 floods affected 124 properties in the village, with somewhere in the region of 20 homes having to be vacated. The flooding continued for almost three months causing the main highway network to become submerged, with some parts impassable. Since 1994, authorities have been working together to help mitigate the impact of flooding and a number of measures have been undertaken such as:-

(i) introduction by the Environment Agency of automatic monitoring of groundwater levels and the use of early warning systems for residents that were most at risk;


(ii) £100,000 of County Council funds spent on highway related flooding in Hambledon and improving culverts;


(iii) the formation of a Local Flood Action Committee by the Parish Council;


(iv) the completion of work by Southern Water on repairing the foul water sewage system; and


(v) the commissioning of consultants Posford Hakoning to investigate the causes of the flooding and identify any mitigation measures.

3. The partnership between authorities has worked well, however it was recognised that the residents of Hambledon would continue to suffer periodic disruption and the highway infrastructure damaged by flooding if further substantial mitigation measures were not taken to control groundwater levels through the village. Therefore, a decision was taken on 10 December 2002 that the County Council would continue to work with Winchester City Council, Hambledon Parish Council and the Environment Agency to progress solutions identified by the consultants. A decision was taken to set aside £15,000 from the Government Office for the South East (GOSE) flood damage funding to develop project bids to the European Commission (under the Interreg 111B programme) and to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

4. Although the Environment Agency is the public agency with primary responsibility, flood prevention is the responsibility of several public bodies and the County Council is committed to working in partnership with the Environment Agency, district and parish councils as well as local water companies to improve the way flooding events are managed, to help mitigate the impact of groundwater flooding in order to minimise disruption to residents and highway users and minimise damage to the fabric of the highway network.

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