02/03/2006 - The Environment
Agency is inviting people concerned about
flood risk in the River Test and Itchen
catchment to help identify how it can be
managed. The Environment Agency has completed
a scoping report for the River Test and
Itchen Catchment Flood Management Plan.
This report is now available for public
consultation.
Catchment Flood Management Plans, required
under the EU Water Framework Directive,
are large-scale plans that explore and identify
how flood risk for an entire river catchment
can be managed long-term. The Test and Itchen
Catchment Flood Management Plan covers the
whole catchment of the two rivers - an area
between Salisbury in the west to Petersfield
in the east and Ludgershall and Andover
in the north down to Southampton Water on
the English Channel.
The plan is in the scoping report stage.
This stage will help the Environment Agency
fully understand flood risk in the catchment.
It will also allow anyone with an interest
in the area to contribute to the plan. All
comments must be sent by 3 April 2006.
Tim Kermode, Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Flood Risk Manager for the Environment Agency,
said: "We have compiled this report
in partnership with a number of organisations
to give us a full understanding of the catchment
and the flood risk in these areas. The public
consultation is an important part of the
process. It allows anyone with an interest
in the Test and Itchen catchment to express
their views. We welcome all contributions
or comments on this report.
"The consultation will give us more
understanding of the concern about flood
risk in the area. We will then be able to
look at the best way of managing this risk
for people, property, businesses and the
environment."
Members of the public can inspect copies
of the scoping report for the River Test
and Itchen Catchment Flood Management Plan
at Andover Library, Eastleigh Library, Southampton
Central Library and Winchester Reference
Library. It is also available on the Environment
Agency website at: www.environment-agency.gov.uk.
Anyone wishing to consult on the Test &
Itchen Catchment Flood Management Plan should
write to: nicola.eastley@environment-agency.gov.uk
or Regional Strategic and Development Planning,
Environment Agency, Guildbourne House, Chatsworth
Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 1LD. Comments
should be sent before 3 April 2006.
