HIGH-QUALITY flood-prevention measures must be installed at new developments across Cam, a county council candidate has said.

Last week the House of Commons’ environment, food and rural affairs committee said that ‘sub-standard planning policies’ had often resulted in ‘low-quality’ schemes being installed at new developments in its inquiry into the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

Environmentalist and Labour candidate for Cam Valley Julie Douglass said that it was ‘crucial’ that planning rules were strengthened to protect homes, businesses and the environment in the area.

“It’s been clear for some time that new developments need much stronger planning rules to protect communities from flood risk,” said Julie Douglass, who is also a member of Cam Parish Council.

"The select committee report says clearly that ‘a significant improvement in the number and quality of sustainable drainage systems’ is needed - in fact it accuses the government of only purporting to support anti-flooding schemes.”

In the report the committee recommends that sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) standards ‘should be enshrined in statute’ to ensure that high-quality schemes are installed at new developments.

It also calls for government guidance to be further tightened to stop the potential for developers to opt out from installing schemes by saying it is too costly or not practical.

“This is crucial to the new developments planned for Cam where homes, businesses and the environment are at risk if we allow developers to avoid working to the highest design and construction standards,” added Julie.

“Stroud District has a record of installing SuDS schemes – even coming up with their own SuDS system for rural areas.

“It's up to us to make sure that every new development is scrutinised to the highest standard for its real environmental sustainability not for its profitability to developers.

“Let’s face it, the developers will be long gone when residents have to live with the consequences of any shoddy and inadequate work on local sites.”

The report is available to view at bit.ly/2p3l4cE