Settlement specific action plan

About the Settlement/ village

Village name West Meon District Catchment(s) River Meon

Ward name Upper Meon Valley No. Residential properties: 858 No. other 1152 Critical 18 (By ward) buildings (by Infrastructure ward) (Ward) Estimate by settlement 244 By settlement 190

About the Local Groundwater Flood Risk Areas at risk of groundwater flooding in have been given a risk ranking based primarily on the number of properties which were reported to have flooded during 2000/01. This includes internal groundfloor flooding and basement flooding, and external flooding by sewage. Other factors, including potential flooding to roads and critical infrastructure and actions taken since 2000/01 to reduce flood risk have also been taken into consideration. The ten areas with the highest rank have been assigned a ‘high’ groundwater flood risk and have had village specific action plans developed. West Meon has been ranked as number 8. Overall local flood risk for groundwater High

Other local flood risk assessment Ranking of ward by local flood risk 6 out of 248 EA surface water Significant and the measures identified to manage the risk (LFRMS)

Flood risk to property from rivers and sea (based on Environment Agency flood maps) Identified community Not applicable Communities at risk ranking (EA database) Not applicable Number of properties at significant or moderate flood risk Not applicable

Summary Flood incidents recorded There is a history of flooding in West Meon, with records of 8 homes flooding at Long Priors in 1979. In additional there is regular (possibly annual) flooding of the A32 and High Street.

In 2000/01. 16 properties flooding (excluding external ‘clean’ flooding). There were reports of 3 properties with cellar flooding, 11 with ground floor flooding and 3 with contaminated (sewage) ground floor flooding. No commercial properties flooded.

Flooding was also associated with the overtopping of the River Meon, although the groundwater flood events recorded during 200/2001 were clearly the result of groundwater emergence.

Type of flooding: Ground floor flooding, cellar flooding. Severe road flooding.

Settlement characteristics Residential area with surrounding countryside, woodland and agriculture.

Critical infrastructure within the ward includes: 7 x Electricity Substation 2 x School 8 x Pumping Station 1 x Medical Centre NO FIRE AND RESCUE. NO POLICE. NO AMBULANCE. NO AIRPORT

The River Meon runs through West Meon.

Landscape, biodiversity and cultural heritage features and designations within 2km: Cultural heritage features:  West Meon Conservation Area – on English Heritage’s ‘Heritage at Risk’ register  King Johns House, Park, Warnford (Scheduled Monument) – on English Heritage’s ‘Heritage at Risk’ register  Ruins of St Nicholas Chapel, Westbury, (Scheduled Monument) – on English Heritage’s ‘Heritage at Risk’ register  Group of four bowl barrows 660m north of Warhill Cottage, East Meon (Scheduled Monument) – on English Heritage’s ‘Heritage at Risk’ register  Bowl barrow 620m north east of Warhill Cottage, East Meon (Scheduled Monument) – on English Heritage’s ‘Heritage at Risk’ register  Lippen Wood Roman Villa (Scheduled Monument)  Earthwork and barrow on parish boundary with West Meon (Scheduled Monument)  Warnford Park (Registered Park and Garden)  Numerous listed buildings: http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/hampshire/west+meon Landscape features:  National Park Biodiversity features:  River Meon Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC)  Disused railway line, Meon Valley SINC  Coombe Wood, East Meon SINC Biodiversity Opportunity Area to south Future risk Detail of future risk, plus objective assessment of climate change on risk Most climate change models indicate that we are likely to experience drier summers, albeit with more intense rainafll when it occurs, and wetter winters. There is a view that groundwater recharge may decline by 5-15%. However, as groundwater flooding occurs primarily as a response to extended periods of rain during late autumn and early winter, there may be an increased risk of groundwater flooding. This is far from certain and the buffering effect of increased groundwater storage (due to lower overall recharge) may mitigate any such effect.

Note on areas of development: Specific policies should be considered by the Planning Authority to control development within this risk area. This should involve suitable property resilience levels until such time as the source, pathways and receptors are understood at a detailed enough scale to ensure that any new development is not at risk of flooding.

Infiltration drainage should be avoided unless it can be clearly demonstrated it will not have a local impact through increased groundwater rise. Septic tanks should also be avoided unless it can be demonstrated that they can operate successfully during periods of extreme groundwater level.

Measures delivered to reduce risk since 2000/2001

What has happened? Action By Whom When Constraints Improvements to the Environment Environment Agency (SEE Following a minor flooding Although groundwater Agency Flood Warning Service- BELOW) event in spring 2007 the flooding cannot be Telemetry boreholes installed at groundwater flooding accurately predicted, Brocklands Farm and West Meon Hut procedures for Solent and notice of high levels can South Downs were updated be provided in sufficient with new telemetry trigger time to avoid some levels for the new purpose damage. drilled boreholes and refined procedures for some sites.

Environment Agency Flood Alert Area: “Groundwater flooding in the Meon Valley from to East Meon ”

Floodline details: 0845 988 1188, select option 1 and enter Quickdial number 0122641 to get more information

Actions by water utlities: NONE IDENTIFIED - unknown whether included in infiltration reduction plans of Southern Water

Identified Mitigation Mitigation proposed includes: Mitigation By Whom Review the maintenance and provision of the surface water drainage system and establish HCC, WCC, West Meon PC and proactive maintenance schedule and flood incident reaction plan riparian owners Review the need to install a pumping system to reduce groundwater flooding in individual properties Individual property owners Sign up to Parish Lengthsman initiative 2014-15 West Meon PC Creation of Flood Action Group West Meon PC Creation of Flood Action Group and Flood Action Plan for West Meon Parish. West Meon PC Information gathering West Meon PC, HCC

For further information regarding the progress of the FAG or the flood action plan:  Parish council website: http://www.westmeonpc.org.uk/

Is there residual risk that needs to be managed? Further residual risk will be reviewed following consultation with and comments from local residents.

Future measures needed to reduce risk

Measure By Whom PHYSICAL ACTIONS Survey, clear and repair Vinnells Lane culvert- which may be of inadequate size HCC MAINTENANCE ACTIONS Routine (inspection)– annual (late autumn) check of surface water channels/ drainage Riparian owners prompted by West pathway, s culverts, including field drains etc. to check for blockage and clear as necessary Meon PC Establish and formalise proactive maintenance response schedule in response to high groundwater levels, to include:

Agree with EA suitable trigger levels based on West Meon Hut borehole. (note existing trigger levels prompt various alert actions already - including issuing information to PC ) HCC/ Environment Agency/ WDC/

Riparian owners Check and clear as required:

Rroad drainage gullies; road drainage culverts; all other surface water channels and drainage pathways. Co-ordinate with responses to deal with flooding from the River Meon such as early clearance of bank vegetation. AWARENESS RAISING and INFORMATION GATHERING Develop a Village Flood Plan Parish Council in liaison with HCC Creation of Flood Action Group Parish Council in liaison with HCC Ensure that residents are aware of the risk of flooding and are registered with the Environment Agency/ Environment Agency flood alert service West Meon PC Ensure that residents are made aware of advice on how to protect themselves and their West Meon PC property in times of flooding Encourage individuals to create a bespoke flood action plan. West Meon PC Keep accurate records of flood events as they occur West Meon PC, HCC