12/08/2005 - The scoping
report for the River Arun Catchment Flood
Management Plan is now available for public
consultation. The Environment Agency is inviting
people concerned about flooding in the catchment
on the plan that will to help identify how
flood risk from the River Arun and its tributaries,
including the River Rother, can be managed.
Catchment Flood Management Plans, required
under the EU Water Framework Directive, are
large-scale plans that explore and identify
long-term policies to manage flood risk for
an entire river catchment. The River Arun
Catchment Flood Management Plan covers an
area from Littlehampton on the coast, northwards
to Horsham in the East and west to Petersfield
including the River Rother.
The plan is currently in the scoping report
stage and the draft plan is now open to public
consultation until 31 October 2005. Anyone
who has an interest in the area can contribute
or comment on the report.
Andrew Gilham, Sussex Area Flood Risk Manager,
said: "This report has been developed
in partnership with a number of organisations
and is a further step to improving our understanding
of how the river catchments function. It is
important to us that local people feel they
have been involved in the preparation of these
plans so we urge anyone who has an interest
in this area or concerns about flooding to
tell us their views.
"This is an important stage in the development
of the final plan which will identify the
most appropriate means of managing flood risk
in this area of Sussex. Following the consultation
period we will continue to work with our partners
to ensure we take on appropriate policies
that will manage flood risk as well as helping
us to achieve additional environmental benefits."
Members of the public can inspect copies
of the document at Littlehampton Library,
Arundel Library, Horsham Library, Midhurst
Library, Petersfield Library or on the Environment
Agency website at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/regions/southern/.
Interested parties wishing to consult on the
River Arun Catchment Flood Management Plan
should respond to the following address or
email anne.tanner@environment-agency.gov.uk
by 31 October 2005: Regional Strategic and
Development Planning, Environment Agency,
Guildbourne House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing,
West Sussex BN11 1LD
