Cllrs T G Cutmore, J Hayter, B T Hazlewood, K H Hudson, Mrs G A Lucas-Gill, Mrs C E Roe, C G Seagers, Mrs M H Spencer, M J Steptoe and I H Ward

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1 Rochford District Councillors: Cllrs T G Cutmore, J Hayter, B T Hazlewood, K H Hudson, Mrs G A Lucas-Gill, Mrs C E Roe, C G Seagers, Mrs M H Spencer, M J Steptoe and I H Ward Rt Hon M Francois, MP for Rayleigh and Wickford Constituency Other Agencies: Officers: Agenda Item Apologies for Absence Minutes of meeting held on 1 October 2014 R Baranowski (Essex County Council Highways (ECCH)), M Cottage (ECCH), R Figg (Anglian Water (AW)), C Box (AW), R Webster (Environment Agency (EA)), T Peck (EA), T Wallace (EA) and P Hill (Fire Service Flood Prevention Project) S Scrutton (RDC Head of Planning & Transportation), R Tatton Bennett (Principal Engineer), V Conroy (RDC Community Communications Officer) and M Power (RDC Minutes) Key observations Cllrs Mrs J A Mockford and D J Sperring, L Shepherd (Essex County Council), J Stacey (RDC) The Minutes of the meeting on 19 August 2014 were agreed as a correct record, subject to substituting the word jet with the word clear on page 3 (Watery Lane ) so that the sentence reads Essex Highways do not clear these ditches as part of the regular maintenance programme. The Rt Hon M Francois declared an interest in Items 7 and 13 of the Agenda, which related to Rawreth lane (Rawreth Industrial Estate) and Church Road, Rawreth, by virtue of his being a resident of Rawreth Lane. Resolved cases The following cases had been resolved since the last meeting: Tudor Close, Rayleigh; Warwick Road, Rayleigh; Warwick Close, Rayleigh; Wimhurst Close, Hockley; Church Road, Hockley; Sweyne Park; Kingsmead Cottages, Barling Road; Windhurst, Hockley; Westminster Drive, Hockley; Victoria Avenue; Pearson s Avenue; Rawreth Lane (collapsed drain). Matters Arising, not on 90 Hockley Road flooding in back and front gardens during heavy rains in 2013 and 2014 was 1

2 the Agenda likely to have been as a result of blocked gutter drains. It was felt that occurrences of heavy rainfall would result in the property continuing to be flooded. ECCH had inspected the drains in October; the drains between the property and the roundabout are also blocked. ECCH to investigate and report back. 18 Lower Lambricks - heavy rain collects in the side entrance of the property and causes flooding. Hard surfaces (garages/extension) on the property/neighbouring property that have inappropriate drainage may aggravate the situation. ECCH to inspect gullies and report back. London Road Rayleigh (83 and central verge) ECCH has started work adjacent to numbers 81 and 83 and jetting of the central verge is programmed for the next week or two. The ditch has been cleared; however, maintenance of the ditch is the landowner s responsibility and they will be contacted in this regard. It is vital that the culvert runs through correctly to the AW system - AW to fix an issue in this location. 215 Hockley Road This problem is extensive, affecting a lot of properties, and must be addressed urgently. One side of the ditch is the responsibility of the landowner; the other is ECCH s responsibility. ECCH is currently investigating the Highways drain and works are likely to be undertaken in the new financial year. Some of the pipe has been cleared but it is choked with debris and tree roots. Due to the extent of the issue and the need to re-lay the pipe, this will be a surface water alleviation scheme and will be funded from the capital budget. Other properties in the area have been issued with sandbags during periods of significant rainfall. Cllr Cutmore to raise with County Cllr Johnson. 15, 17, 19 Ferndale Road Surface water sewers have been inspected by AW/ECC, who confirm that the outfall is clear and the system working. Additional gulleys are now in place in this location but because the properties are in a low spot in the highway, flooding will continue to be an issue. ECCH to look into this in the future. A member of the public reported that the drain that runs behind nos. 5 and 7 Ferndale Road is 2

3 blocked and needs to be jetted by AW. The culvert under footpath no 2 has never been cleared; as a result water can pool up to a depth of 2-3 feet on the footpath. This footpath is used by horse riders, which may have caused it to collapse. The footpath is near a school and is not fenced. ECCH to inspect the culvert and RTB will attend the site this week. The ditch on the other side may be the responsibility of a third-party landowner, in which case permission will be required. Rawreth Lane (Rawreth Industrial Estate) Grove Road/Grove Court Eastwood Road junction with Warwick Road and Trinity Road Investigation is being programmed by ECCH to ascertain the reason for the Highways manhole discharging (west of Laburnam way). AW confirmed that although water is flowing freely in this location, there is insufficient capacity in the sewage pumping station. AW is looking at a capital scheme in the next financial year to increase the capacity of the pumping station, which it is hoped will resolve the issue. Works by RDC at the beginning of 2015 to improve the ditch in Grove Woods (opposite the property) should help the issue in the short term. Grove Wood school has advised it is happy to allow access to excavators for the works. Properties to the east of the Eastwood Road have flooded and beanie kerbs have been placed at the junction. AW camera inspected and it was clear; this may be a capacity issue. ECCH will be producing modelling for this location. AW to. A member of the public advised that houses in The Croft (just past The Chase) are flooded when the brook runs high. AW confirmed the culvert taking rain water from Eastwood Road to Eastwood Brook backs up, resulting in water running down Eastwood Road and flooding the gardens in 9 or 10 properties in The Croft. The main sewer drain is next to one property and AW has to inspect this each time there is heavy rain. Proposed works to Eastwood Brook should help to alleviate the situation Broad Walk Details of a highway flood at the end of the cul-de-sac have been passed to ECCH on the list to be investigated. (ECCH) 3

4 Rosslyn Close Main Road, Hockley Church Road, Rawreth An AW camera inspection showed tree roots in the public system water sewer. Works have been completed; in addition, ECCH has installed extra gullies further up the road. ECCH has investigated the highway drains and consulted with AW regarding the public water sewer, which is full of tree roots. Church Road suffers from severe flooding due to incoming flows from Rawreth Brook, Benfleet Brook and Chichester Brook. The possibility of enlarging the culvert under Church Road could be looked into. The area is being re-evaluated, with modelling of the water courses due to commence in January and completed by March 2015 (Strategies team ECCH). Essential maintenance of the highway drain is undertaken and the culvert is currently free. Members were invited by the Rawreth Flood Action Group to attend their next meeting to hear the issues in more detail. The responsibility for maintenance of the ditches lies with riparian land owners, of which there are many in this location. Any essential maintenance the EA undertakes is under permissive powers. The EA routinely cuts back vegetation from the channel or side of the bank. The Rt Hon M Francois would raise the issue at a forthcoming meeting he has with the EA Regional Director. In response to a question from a member of the public, it was confirmed that there are no plans to develop near the brook; therefore there would be no issue of debris from building work going into the brook. Greensward School Hockley Watery Lane A large surface water sewer goes through the school; AW has undertaken checks and advises that there are no issues. RTB to investigate reports of flooding, and to monitor building works at the school to make sure that these are not causing issues. (R Tatton-Bennett, RDC) The options considered are either to increase the capacity of the pumping station or to reinstate a ditch alongside the road, which had been there years ago and for which there is funding in the budget. However, the landowner is not willing to provide the necessary strip of land for the ditch as 4

5 this would mean he has future responsibility for maintaining the ditch. It is hoped that property developers in the area will contribute to works to alleviate the issue of flooding in this area. The Rt Hon M Francois would raise this issue elsewhere. Church Road, Hockley Salem Walk and Fairmead, Rayleigh ECC is looking into ownership of the section of pipe that goes under the railway bridge that is blocked andcausing problems. The pipe is now clear and ECC will discuss further with Railtrack. Completed. This location suffered extensive flooding in August 2013 due to the screen blocking the watercourse. To alleviate this, Rochford Housing Association (RHA) fenced off the area and removed the grilles. RHA has been requested to erect more permanent and visually acceptable fencing in the area and should be chased to implement this. RHA is looking into installing a new style of grille, which will stop large items blocking the culvert but allow small debris, such as leaves and twigs, to flow through. Although maintenance is the responsibility of RHA as the riparian landowner, it was proposed that responsibility for maintenance (clearing sediment and vegetation) be transferred to RDC. This would be at a cost of 11,000 and would need to be done every 3-5 years. On a show of hands allocation of the sum of 11,000 was agreed (RDC). Following comments at the last meeting of the Flood Forum, property owners had confirmed that no properties on the Bellway site next to the brook had been flooded. Cornhill, Hockley This road is a low spot on the highway, so water collects. ECCH is undertaking survey works to investigate. It appears to be clear now but there may be a capacity issue, or the way it feeds into the system could be the problem; there are concerns about how the gullies connect to the AW system. ECC/AW investigating. A member of the public requested that issues of flooding of the gardens and garages of 6 properties at the bottom end of Hamilton Gardens be investigated also. Residents were 5

6 concerned that if they attempt to sort out their own defences the problem may be displaced to other parts of the area. A member of the public advised that Walnut Court (off Orchard Avenue) has severe flooding also, with the drains lifting. It was confirmed that this was part of the same system and would be looked at as part of the works in the first bullet point above. In response to a request from a member of the public that a study be undertaken on Wimhurst Close, RTB advised that the ECC flood team are undertaking modelling of the zone covering the line of the major service water sewer from Maryland Open Space to Hawkwell Brook. RTB to contact Local Leading Flood Authority (L Shepherd, ECC) in this regard. Laburnam Way, Rayleigh Site meeting had taken place (RDC with landowner); landowner accepted responsibility for maintenance of the private section of the ditch. ECCH had repaired a collapsed drain. The main issue is that the ditch is completely choked with willow tree roots; the trees need to be removed and the ditch reformed. The Land drainage Act allows two authorities to do works on behalf of the landowner (RDC/ECC); if ECC, as the lead local flood authority, does the works it can recover the cost from the landowner. ECC advised that the suggestion that RDC funds the works initially and ECC claims the money back from landowner was not possible legally. Mark Francois will request that ECC looks at this in a more pragmatic way. Alternatively, the County Council Cabinet Member for Highways could be asked to reallocate funding earmarked for works at Watery Lane to this project. Rochford Reservoir Blower Close, Rayleigh Works to de-silt the inlet to improve capacity will be carried out February/March 2015, subject to suitable ground conditions. A cut-off ditch to be introduced to protect properties backing on to the land to the east. Requests have been made to the property owners to give written consent for the works to take place. Work is 6

7 scheduled to be carried out in spring 2015, subject to obtaining property owners consent Windsor Way, Rayleigh The area has been jetted and is working - completed. ECCH to investigate report of a collapsed drain opposite no 39 Windsor Way (ECCH) 57 Trinity Road, Rayleigh This is now clear. Completed. 33 Fairland Close, Completed. Rayleigh 3 Tudor Close, Rayleigh Completed to be added to the list to be surveyed annually. 7&9 Warwick Road, Rayleigh Warwick Close and Road, Rayleigh Nobles Green ditch Eastwood Rise/Nore Road Completed - ECC capital team has cleared the drain blockage. To be monitored during the next heavy rainfall. The level of the road surface does not tie in with the surface level of the bellmouth. ECC Capital maintenance team has the area on the list to be resurfaced; in the short term there may continue to be issues. This needs to be monitored. Cllr Mrs Roe reported that ponding is excessive by the two corner bungalows. ECCH to do site visit and relay information to the capital team for resurfacing - report back to Cllr Mrs Roe. The paving in this location has been displaced by trees. Residents have been trying to clear vegetation. The culvert feeds into Rochford Reservoir; it is half a mile long and would cost 9,000 to clear. By a show of hands it was agreed that the works ( 9,000) should be funded - RTB to appoint contractor. (RDC) ECCH advised that all the roads here are un-adopted. Residents need to be informed that the drains are the responsibility of the landowners. A letter from ECCH advising that Eastwood Rise only would be adopted to be forwarded to ECCH (R Baranowski). 7

8 Kimberley Road, Little Wakering Canterbury Close, Rayleigh Eastwood Brook AW to report back on upgrading the rising main in the pumping station at the next meeting. (AW) In response to a question, EA confirmed that there would be no problem if the grille on the gully on the fluvial side of the sea wall were to be removed, as there is very little debris captured in it. AW to investigate why AW contact details are on a sign on the sea side of the wall. The AW camera inspection had shown the sewer to be clear. AW to meet the property owner on site. Cllr D J Sperring has met on site with the EA. Following its recent failure, the Rayleigh Weir pumping station has been refurbished, which should help to avoid the severe flooding issues seen in recent months. An area has been identified for the creation of a storage pond (to be funded by Rayleigh Town Council/ECC) that would reduce the water running from Rayleigh Weir into Eastwood Brook in times of heavy rainfall. (Questions about the water tanks under Sainsbury car park should be raised with Castle Point Borough Council.) Victoria Avenue ECCH/AW have jetted the lines and scheduled more frequent maintenance visits to clear the gullies. This is an ongoing issue. Vernon Avenue This is an ongoing issue. AW will have to undertake the work during the night because of parked cars. 24 High Road, Hockley AW has undertaken work at 17 Main Road, Hockley. At 24 High Road, Hockley ECCH increased the height of the road. Building works in this location have resulted in the existing highway drain being unable to cope with the run-off of water from properties on the south side of the road and the area has frequently flooded. R Baranowski (ECCH) met the resident on site six weeks ago. It was noted that driveways are classed as permitted development in planning terms, as long as there are 8

9 appropriate arrangements for dealing with surface water. The RDC Head of Planning would meet the resident on site. Any other business Councillors and members of the public were invited to contribute to this part of the meeting. Glebe Junior School, Rayleigh has flooded this year and last year. ECCH is undertaking a study but needs to see how far this has progressed. Poynters Lane before junction with Wakering Road flooding caused by a run off of water from work undertaken by adjacent landowners on the north side of Poynters Lane to be added to agenda for investigation. Hockley County Primary School - Footpath 11: drainage completely disappears photos to be submitted. 109 Plumberow, Hockley AW to move the pipe from the rear garden of 109 back into the open space (January 2015): AW will then be responsible for keeping the pipe clear of debris. Developers are required to address surface water flow issues in respect of their development to ensure that the development does not cause surface issues elsewhere. Rawreth Lane collapsed drain that links in directly with the drain in Laburnam Way/ Cheshunt Drive and continues towards Watery Lane. RTB to liaise with AW to ensure that public water surface drain is clear and discharging into the ditch. AW The meeting started at 10 am and ended at pm. 9