Campaigners say flood report must not be ignored (From Gazette Series)

Campaigners say flood report must not be ignored

11:00am Wednesday 25th June 2008 in News By Ali Dent

THE government will ignore its own advice on house building on flood plains if it gives the green light to develop Chipping Sodbury Common.

Campaigners fighting plans for 1,500 homes on land off St John's Way say it is "short-sighted" to even consider erecting houses there and are calling on Parliament to reconsider it own recommendation following the publication of a report this week.

Protestors at the plans, which were drawn up by the South West Regional Spatial Strategy, urged ministers to take heed of Sir Michael Pitt's report on flooding out yesterday (Wednesday).

In his in-depth review of flooding issues, Sir Pitt condemns housebuilding on any flood plain and urges local councils only to pass planning applications in waterlogged areas as a last resort.

"Common sense says that building on the flood plain is asking for trouble, and many parts of North Yate and Chipping Sodbury already have serious flooding problems," said Northavon MP Steve Webb.

"If we are to learn the lessons of last summer's floods it is vital that we do not add to the problem by mass housebuilding in high flood risk areas."

Residents say they struggle with floods on the common every year already and more homes would leave them unable to cope.

Vayre Close resident Justin Littlechild said: "It is incredibly short-sighted even to think about putting houses in an area that is so prone to flooding.

"Even with the existing number of houses we have flooding problems in the St John's Way area.

"Building thousands more houses in the area would make the problem worse."

South Gloucestershire Council has consulted residents on the plans in its core strategy document and thousands of responses are now being collated. Housing minister Hazel Blears will decide if houses should be built on the common in the summer.