FloodRisk2005

Following further discussions on the flood risk assessment report published in May, the following was agreed by The Environment Portfolio Holder. This decision was in agreement with Swavesey and Fen Drayton Parish Councils.
South Cambs District Council has AGREED to:
(a) The construction of an earth bund (including a new award drain culvert) to protect the village of Fen Drayton and the subsequent raising of the lower section of the Covell’s Drain right bank (Swavesey bank – approx 400 metres) up to ‘Design’ level. Additionally, to seek the agreement of the Environment Agency to progress a combined scheme involving Defra funding so that the river Ouse right bank (Covell’s Drain to Webb’s Hole Sluice – approx 1750 metres) is also raised up to ‘Design’ levels.
(b) Officers applying for Grant-in-Aid funding from Defra for the year 2012/13 to fund this work on the basis that the combined scheme cost to the Council to be approximately £90,000.

South Cambridgeshire District Council and the Environment Agency jointly commissioned a report on the impact of raising the eastern embankment of Covell's drain to determine its affects on the flood plain mechanism in the Fen Drayton and Swavesey areas. This report has now been published - Report - and comments are to be sent to the District Council by 27th May. Swavesey Parish Council will review the report and consider its comments for the Parish Council meeting on 23rd May 2011.

A second meeting with the Environment Agency took place during January to follow up on the actions identified in the Sept 2008 meeting. Action on these points by the Environment Agency is still awaited. The proposed flood risk assessment for the Covell's Drain area has still not be specified. The Parish Council continues to strongly put its concerns over the implications for the flood risk to the Swavesey area, to the EA and SCDC.

In September 2008 the Parish Council met with representatives from the Environment Agency (EA), South Cambridgeshire District Council and Swavesey Internal Drainage Board, to discuss with the EA the Parish Council's concerns over the proposals for the foul water strategy for Northstowe, the surface water run-off from the proposed improvements to the A14 and the continuing discussions over the height of the Covel's Drain bank. A copy of the notes of the meeting can be seen here. At time of writing the Parish Council is still awaiting further information on the proposed flood risk assessment for the Covel's Drain area.

Further to the discussions below, the Environment Agency (EA) wrote to South Cambs District Council on 13th March to confirm that its position remains the same. The EA continues to request that SCDC return the eastern bank to its former level until such time as a flood risk assessment has been carried out. However, as far as Swavesey Parish Council is aware, there are no plans by the EA to carry out a flood assessment covering the Covel's Drain area. The study which was to be commissioned by the EA in April 2006 (as mentioned below) has not included the Covel's Drain area.

Swavesey Parish Council has replied to the EA, stating that its position also remains the same - that the eastern bank should not be lowered.

The District Council's Land Drainage Advisory Board met again on Tuesday 24th January, 10am at S Cambs Hall, Cambourne, to reconsider their earlier decision. Swavesey Parish Council was invited to attend and outline the concerns in the Swavesey area. Presentations were also made by The Environment Agency, Fen Drayton Parish Council and residents, Swavesey Internal Drainage Board and residents of Swavesey.

The District Council's Land Drainage Advisory Board came to the following recommendation:

No action to be taken by the District Council with regard to the recommendation by the Environment Agency (EA) to lower a section of the Covell's Drain bank, until a new study on the flooding issues of this area, to be commissioned by the EA in April 2006, has been completed. The Advisory Group strongly recommends that the EA consults with all local interested parties as part of this study and that the EA needs to consider the situation as it is today, ie the current bank heights, levels and flood plains.

The EA expects to open the new study in April of this year, with a final report published around December.

This recommendation will now be taken to the District Council's Cabinet meeting for further discussion and decision by the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Health.

If anyone would like further information with regard to this subject or the meeting on 24th January, please contact the Clerk to the Parish Council: Linda Miller, email: clerk@swavesey.org.uk

The Environment Agency has recommended to South Cambridgeshire District Council that a section of the Covell’s Drain bank be lowered. This section lies directly west of the village, behind the Cherry Trees estate. The Covell’s Drain is a main Award Drain, under the responsibility of South Cambs District Council.

At a meeting of the South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Land Drainage Advisory Group on Friday 14th October 2005, it was recommended by the Advisory Group that “the Environment Agency advice is followed by reducing the height of the sections of the bank as directed by the Environment Agency, provided in advance of the works being carried out, the Agency indemnifies the Council.”

Our District Councillor for Swavesey is Chairman of the Land Drainage Advisory Group, but was totally opposed to the advice from the Environment Agency and the recommendation agreed by majority decision of the Advisory Group.

The potential implications of this recommendation would be extremely serious to Swavesey, in that it would seriously increase the flood risk to the centre of the village. Any water overtopping the drain bank at this point, would flow across the Nature Reserve access road, and on into Turnbridge drain, which runs under and through Moat Way. The drain then continues alongside Thistle Green, under the High St, behind Wallmans Lane, along the back of Market Street, into Church Brook and on out to the river.

The Parish Council, Swavesey’s District Councillor and The Swavesey Internal Drainage Board (IDB) are alarmed and extremely concerned over the increased flood risk that this action would have on the village. All three have written to South Cambridgeshire District Council expressing their serious concerns over the recommendation and have requested that before any decision is made, further consultation take place between the Parish Council, IDB, Environment Agency and South Cambs District Council to ensure that all parties are fully aware of the serious implications of lowering any section of the Covell’s Drain bank.

South Cambs District Council has yet to make its final decision on how it will proceed with the Environment Agency's recommendation. Swavesey Parish Council will do all within its powers to ensure that those making this decision at South Cambs are fully aware of the serious flood risk to Swavesey that may occur should the drain bank be lowered.