Medway Flood Action Plan Plan Together - Deliver in Partnership

Working with the Medway Flood Partnership How we’re reducing the risk of flooding in the Medway catchment

Full Action Plan November 2017

The Medway Flood Partnership

The Medway Flood Partnership was established in January 2017 and is bringing together local partners, national agencies, non-governmental organisations and community representatives to reduce flood risk within the Medway catchment and create better places for people, properties and businesses. The Partnership involves senior representatives and officers from all the partner organisations.

The Partnership members are:

• Country Land and Business Association • Environment Agency • Forestry Commission • Joint Parish Flood Group • Association of Local Councils • Kent County Council • Borough Council • National Farmers Union • Natural • District Council • South East Rivers Trust • Southern Water • and Malling • Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Borough Council • Upper Medway Internal Drainage Board

Reducing the risk of flooding in the Medway catchment is a complex problem that can only be solved by working in partnership. During the December 2013 flood event, approximately 965 homes were flooded across the Medway catchment, devastating people and livelihoods. Over 9,000 properties across the Medway catchment are at risk of river flooding with more at risk from other sources such as surface water or sewer flooding.

This action plan sets out what organisations will do to reduce flood risk in the short term. But there is more to do. While this flood action plan is a significant milestone in addressing flood risk in the Medway catchment, it is part of a longer journey with the partnership, communities and with individuals to build awareness and preparedness for flooding, and identify and develop more actions which can help to reduce flood levels.

Over the coming years, the partnership will continue to work with communities to develop this plan further and consider the 25 year vision and the pathway to getting there.

This action plan is a ‘living document’ that will be regularly monitored and reviewed by the Medway Flood Partnership to make sure that actions are delivered and new information and ideas are incorporated. All members are committed to its delivery and embedding an integrated approach to flood risk management into our organisations.

A summary document of this action plan has also been produced and can be found on www.gov.uk if you search for ‘Medway Flood Action Plan’.

For further information and if you have any comments on the Medway Flood Action Plan please email [email protected]

The Medway Flood Action Plan | How we’re reducing the risk of flooding in the Medway catchment 3 Capital investment and maintenance

Actions in this theme of work include traditional, engineered flood defence projects which help to reduce the risk of flooding to people, property and businesses.

It also includes maintenance of flood risk assets, such as sluices, to ensure they are in good operational condition and the maintenance of river channels which includes ditch and highway gully clearance, weed cutting, tree and debris removal and desilting of river beds.

When will Action What we're going to do Where will this this work Owner Who else will support this work? work take place? happen?

Carry out works to enable the Coult Stream Flood Storage Area 1 to be used more frequently to reduce the risk of flooding to Coult Stream March 2018 Environment Agency homes in smaller events.

Carry out feasibility and funding investigations to develop and Borough 2 deliver (if applicable) a scheme to reduce risk to homes and 2017-2022 Environment Agency Council, Kent County Council, South businesses in East Peckham. East Local Enterprise Partnership

Reduce flood risk to 1,475 homes in Tonbridge and Kent County Council, South East Local by carrying out construction works to enlarge 3 at Leigh and 2019-2022 Environment Agency Enterprise Partnership, Tonbridge and the capacity of the Leigh Flood Storage Area and build embankments in Hildenborough. Hildenborough Malling Borough Council

Carry out a 3-year programme of engineering works to keep Ongoing to 4 Leigh Environment Agency the Leigh Flood Storage Area in good operational condition. 2019

Carry out scoping surveys to understand which homes , Collier at greatest risk of flooding in the Middle Medway Flood Street, Hunton, Kent County Council, Maidstone Resilience Scheme area are suitable for property resistance Marden, West Borough Council, Joint Parish Flood 5 measures. Farleigh, 2017-2019 Environment Agency Group, Southern Regional Flood and , Where homeowners agree, install property resistance Coastal Committee measures in suitable homes in the Middle Medway Flood and Resilience Scheme area. Nettlestead

4 The Medway Flood Action Plan | How we’re reducing the risk of flooding in the Medway catchment When will Action What we're going to do Where will this this work Owner Who else will support this work? work take place? happen?

With funding from Kent County Council, Maidstone Borough Yalding, Collier Council and the Southern Regional Flood and Coastal Street, Hunton, Environment Committee investigate and implement community level Marden, West Agency, Kent County Joint Parish Flood Group, Southern 6 resilience measures to reduce the impact of flooding in the Farleigh, 2018-2020 Council, Maidstone Regional Flood and Coastal Committee Middle Medway Flood Resilience Scheme area. This includes East Farleigh, Borough Council localised flood defences to reduce risk to homes at greatest Wateringbury and risk of flooding. Nettlestead

Continue to carry out the Environment Agency's annual programme of maintenance work on Main Rivers across the 7 Catchment wide Ongoing Environment Agency catchment to maintain the flow of water and ensure flood risk assets are in good condition.

Collate the flood maintenance activities of risk management Kent County Council, Upper Medway authorities across the catchment. Internal Drainage Board, Tonbridge 2018/19 and Malling Borough Council, 8 Make this information available to communities to raise Catchment wide Environment Agency awareness of the work that is being done to manage flood risk onwards Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, in the catchment and use it to encourage riparian landowners Council, Maidstone to carry out their own maintenance. Borough Council

Kent County Council, Upper Medway Set up a Medway Maintenance Group to discuss and review the Internal Drainage Board, Southern planned maintenance work of the Environment Agency, Upper Water, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Medway Internal Drainage Board, local councils, Kent County Council, Tunbridge Wells Borough 9 Catchment wide Annually Environment Agency Council Highways and Southern Water. Involve local community Council, Sevenoaks District Council, representatives to promote a joined up approach and increase Kent Association of Local Councils, community involvement. Joint Parish Flood Group, Maidstone Borough Council

The Medway Flood Action Plan | How we’re reducing the risk of flooding in the Medway catchment 5 When will Action What we're going to do Where will this this work Owner Who else will support this work? work take place? happen?

Carry out a rolling programme of work to inspect Environment 10 Agency owned culverts across the catchment to ensure they Catchment wide Annually Environment Agency continue to convey flows.

Work with partners and communities to consider where removal of old structures, such as retention weirs and Rivers Teise, Beult 11 automatic sluices, may help to lower water levels and reduce 2018-2022 Environment Agency South East Rivers Trust and Eden flood risk. Where appropriate, work with partners and the community to carry out these works.

Carry out drainage works and maintenance works to Ordinary 12 Watercourses on behalf of Maidstone Borough Council to Maidstone Borough 2017-2020 Kent County Council Maidstone Borough Council maintain flow of water.

Improve the trash screen on the River Grom culvert entrance 13 Tunbridge Wells 2017/18 Kent County Council to prevent flooding due to blockage.

Investigate ways to reduce risk of flooding at Neville Gardens Neville Gardens and in the Warwick Park area of Tunbridge Wells. Kent County Council 14 / Warwick Park, 2017/18 and Southern Water If feasible, develop funding plans and deliver flood risk Tunbridge Wells management measures.

6 The Medway Flood Action Plan | How we’re reducing the risk of flooding in the Medway catchment When will Action What we're going to do Where will this this work Owner Who else will support this work? work take place? happen?

Continue to carry out Southern Water's proactive programme of maintenance work to maintain an effective system, include Rolling 15 Catchment wide Southern Water regular reviews to ensure appropriate maintenance is carried programme out.

Carry out a targeted programme of surveys of Southern Water Rolling 16 assets to improve our understanding of their condition and Catchment wide Southern Water programme inform our future Capital Maintenance plan.

Update Drainage Area Plans for: , , , Ashford, Redgate Mill Crowborough, , Ham Hill, Tonbridge, Bidborough, Biddenden, , Edenbridge, Luxfords Lane East Grinstead, Eden Vale East Grinstead, Felbridge, Forest Row, Kent County Council, Environment By March 17 Godstone, Hawkhurst South, Leeds, Lingfield, , Catchment wide Southern Water Agency, Borough and District Councils 2020 Tunbridge Wells North & South, Copthorne, Wateringbury. as required Use these to understand the impact of weather/climate change and growth on waste water systems and identify how this impact can be managed to reduce flood risk from sewers to homes.

Upper Medway Carry out annual maintenance work within Upper Medway 18 Catchment wide Annually Internal Drainage Internal Drainage Board district to maintain flow of water. Board

Support infrastructure projects which will reduce flood risk by Sevenoaks District 19 considering valid bids for Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Sevenoaks District Ongoing funding. Council

The Medway Flood Action Plan | How we’re reducing the risk of flooding in the Medway catchment 7 Natural Flood Management

Actions in this theme of work look at how natural flood management techniques could work in combination with engineered solutions to help to slow the flow of water and reduce the impacts of flooding.

There are a wide range of techniques including measures to help slow and/or reduce flows including re-meandering rivers, targeted woodland planting, and techniques to hold water temporarily on the land. As well as helping to reduce flood risk, natural flood management techniques can also provide wider social and environmental benefits by improving our environment for people and wildlife to enjoy.

When will Action What we're going to do Where will this this work Owner Who else will support this work? work take place? happen?

South East Rivers Trust, Natural England, Upper Medway Internal Drainage Board, Kent County Council, Work with partners to consider how our annual maintenance Southern Water, Tonbridge and Malling 20 work can support natural flood management measures where Catchment wide Annually Environment Agency Borough Council, Tunbridge Wells they help to reduce flood risk. Borough Council, Sevenoaks District Council, Joint Parish Flood Group, Kent Association of Local Councils, Maidstone Borough Council

River Beult between Identify, investigate and agree options to improve the Hadmans Bridge River Beult SSSI for people and wildlife by working with near Smarden and 21 landowners, local partners and groups. This will include 2017/18 Environment Agency Natural England options to slow flood flows and use unoccupied areas of the its confluence with floodplain to temporarily accept flood water. the River Medway at Yalding

3 Provide 12,500m of flood storage at Mill Farm, Marden and Environment Agency, Peter Hall (Mill 22 use this site to demonstrate the technique to build support for Mill Farm, Marden 2017 Kent County Council natural flood management measures. Farm)

8 The Medway Flood Action Plan | How we’re reducing the risk of flooding in the Medway catchment When will Action What we're going to do Where will this this work Owner Who else will support this work? work take place? happen?

Investigate opportunities to use natural flood management Upper Medway Internal Drainage 23 Paddock Wood 2017/18 Kent County Council techniques to reduce flood risk in Paddock Wood. Board

Investigate opportunities to use natural flood management 24 2017/18 Kent County Council Environment Agency techniques to reduce flood risk around Ightham.

River Teise and Explore how we can use the Catchment Sensitive Farming Southern Water (Beult) & South East 25 approach to provide advice to farmers about managing water River Beult 2016-2020 Natural England Water (Teise) on-farm that promotes natural flood management measures. catchments

Investigate the potential to hold floodwater in the upper Ashdown Forest catchment by restoring areas of wet heathland in Ashdown 26 / River Medway 2016-2021 Natural England Ashdown Forest Conservators Forest through the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier Scheme. headwaters

Explore the potential for natural flood management techniques in the West Kent Woods ecological network around 27 River Bourne 2017-2020 Natural England Kent County Council Sevenoaks-Hildenborough-- including the use of attenuation methods to slow the flow.

Invest in Countryside Stewardship agreements in the Natural England catchment, including creation/ restoration/ maintenance Southern Water, Landowners and 28 Catchment wide Next 3 years / Forestry of diverse habitats to improve water quality and reduce farmers Commission run-off / erosion.

The Medway Flood Action Plan | How we’re reducing the risk of flooding in the Medway catchment 9 When will Action What we're going to do Where will this this work Owner Who else will support this work? work take place? happen?

Through the FRAMES project, identify priority sub-catchments Environment Agency, Natural England, where natural flood management techniques will achieve South East Rivers 29 Catchment wide 2017/18 Forestry Commission, Kent County greatest benefit in reducing flood risk in the catchment. Carry Trust Council out modelling and identify the techniques to achieve this.

Through the FRAMES project, work with local communities Environment Agency, Natural England, and landowners in priority sub catchments to design and South East Rivers 30 Catchment wide 2018-2021 Forestry Commission, Kent County deliver natural flood management schemes which will test Trust land-management techniques. Council

2017/18 Develop a funding strategy to identify and secure Environment Agency, Natural England, and South East Rivers 31 additional resources for natural flood management Catchment wide Forestry Commission, Kent County measures across the catchment. This will be a live document reviewed Trust Council, Southern Water and reviewed regularly. regularly

Through the FRAMES project, coordinate the use of existing mechanisms and networks across the partnership to Natural England, National Farmers build understanding of the wider benefits ofnatural flood South East Rivers Union, Country Land and Business 32 Catchment wide 2018-2021 management techniques and encourage landowners and Trust Association, Environment Agency, Kent tenants to consider implementing them within their County Council current practices.

Identify and develop natural flood management case studies from across the country. Build a database of more local demonstration projects and sites suitable for potential Environment Agency, Natural England, walkovers / visits. South East Rivers 33 Catchment wide 2018-2021 Forestry Commission, Kent County Trust Use these to build landowner support for the techniques Council to slow the flow of flood water and other natural flood management techniques, through targeted discussions with landowners in priority sub-catchments.

10 The Medway Flood Action Plan | How we’re reducing the risk of flooding in the Medway catchment Community resilience

Actions in this theme consider a broad range of activities to improve community resilience, which not only aims to reduce the impact of flooding on communities, but also helps them to continue to function during a flood. This might be by ensuring that the power supply is uninterrupted or by managing traffic to prevent properties flooding from road wash.

The Medway Flood Partnership brings together a wide variety of organisations to work on raising awareness of flood risk, building individual preparedness, emergency planning activities to ensure local communities are ready to respond, and identifying community measures to reduce the impact of flooding.

When will Action What we're going to do Where will this this work Owner Who else will support this work? work take place? happen?

Run community drop in sessions and workshops to raise Environment Agency awareness of the Medway Flood Action Plan and develop it 34 Catchment wide 2018/19 and Kent County Medway Flood Partnership further to build flood resilience across the catchment and Council identify next steps for the action plan.

Kent County Council, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, Tunbridge Support local communities to help build residents' awareness Kent Association of Wells Borough Council, Sevenoaks 35 of their individual flood risk and what they can do to prepare Catchment wide Ongoing and respond. Local Councils District Council, Environment Agency, Kent Resilience Team, Maidstone Borough Council

Raise awareness of the Extended Floodline Service and 36 work with local councils to encourage them to register for Catchment wide Ongoing Environment Agency Kent Resilience Team this free service.

The Medway Flood Action Plan | How we’re reducing the risk of flooding in the Medway catchment 11 When will Action What we're going to do Where will this this work Owner Who else will support this work? work take place? happen?

Kent County Council, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, Tunbridge Working with communities and partners, build community Wells Borough Council, Sevenoaks understanding about how flood risk management assets 37 Catchment wide Ongoing Environment Agency District Council, Kent Association are operated to reduce flood risk to homes and businesses of Local Councils, Joint Parish without increasing risk to others. Flood Group, Kent Resilience Team, Maidstone Borough Council

Continue to promote flood awareness and preparedness and Kent Resilience 38 encourage Parish Councils and community groups to complete Catchment wide Ongoing Team and Kent Association of Local Councils and test their own flood plans. Environment Agency

Headcorn, Ightham, Hildenborough. Support communities to establish local flood forums in Further National Flood Forum, Environment 39 Headcorn, Ightham and Hildenborough and develop local 2017-2019 Kent County Council resilience plans. communities may Agency be added as the project progresses

Work with partners to develop a jointly owned flood incident plan, to include road closures, to support communities during Kent County Council, Kent Resilience Yalding and Collier 2017 Team, Maidstone Borough Council, 40 flood events in Yalding and Collier Street. Environment Agency Street onwards Yalding and Collier Street Parish If this pilot is successful, develop similar plans for other key Councils communities in the catchment.

Run training for Parish Councillors and Clerks in at risk Kent Association of Environment Agency, Kent Resilience 41 County wide Ongoing communities to build understanding of all aspects of flooding. Local Councils Team

12 The Medway Flood Action Plan | How we’re reducing the risk of flooding in the Medway catchment When will Action What we're going to do Where will this this work Owner Who else will support this work? work take place? happen?

Ongoing - Tonbridge, Hildenborough, Edenbridge, Kent Resilience Team, Tonbridge and Yalding, Little Malling Borough Council, Tunbridge Venice Country Recruit, train and maintain engagement with new and existing Ongoing, as Wells Borough Council, Sevenoaks 42 Park and Marina, Environment Agency volunteer flood wardens. required District Council, Kent Association Paddock Wood, of Local Councils, Joint Parish Flood East Peckham, Group, Maidstone Borough Council East Farleigh, Collier Street. New communities on demand

Develop an emergency flood plan template for rural businesses to ensure they know what action to take in the Environment Agency, Kent Resilience 43 event of a flood. National Farmers Catchment wide Ongoing Team, Country Land and Business Union Use existing mechanisms to work with businesses and Association landowners to promote flood awareness and preparedness and encourage them to complete their own the plans.

Environment Agency, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, Tunbridge Use Kent Prepared website to raise awareness of flood risk to Kent Resilience 44 Catchment wide Ongoing Wells Borough Council, Sevenoaks the business community. Team District Council, Maidstone Borough Council

Yalding, Collier Street and Hunton Investigate and install traffic management measures as part Yalding, Collier 45 of the Middle Medway Flood Resilience Scheme to reduce the 2017-2022 Kent County Council Parish Councils, Maidstone Borough Street and Hunton risk of flooding to homes from road wash. Council, Kent Resilience Team

The Medway Flood Action Plan | How we’re reducing the risk of flooding in the Medway catchment 13 When will Action What we're going to do Where will this this work Owner Who else will support this work? work take place? happen?

Use learning from Middle Medway Flood Resilience Scheme to consider other areas in the catchment where traffic Kent Resilience Team, relevant 46 management may help to increase resilience to flooding. Catchment wide 2019-2021 Kent County Council Borough and District Councils Work with local businesses to raise their awareness of how they can help to reduce flood risk.

Understand which Southern Water assets are key to community resilience during flood events. Work with partners Kent County Council, Environment 47 Catchment wide Ongoing Southern Water to consider how to make these sites more resilient so that Agency they can continue to support communities during flooding.

Yalding, Collier Street, Hunton, Develop and deliver a rolling exercise programme to test Marden, West Rolling Maidstone Borough Council, Kent community flood plans within the Middle Medway Flood 48 Farleigh, programme Environment Agency County Council, Kent Resilience Team, Resilience Scheme area, including any action needed for East Farleigh, from 2018 Joint Parish Flood Group homes with property level resilience measures. Wateringbury and Nettlestead

Develop and deliver a rolling exercise programme to test Kent Resilience Team, relevant 49 Catchment wide Ongoing Environment Agency community flood plans. Borough and District Councils

Compile a register of flood risk assets in Kent, including high risk culverts, watercourses and other drainage assets, structures and locations. 50 County of Kent 2017 Kent County Council All Risk Management Authorities Share this flood risk management asset information so that local communities understand where local assets are and who is responsible for them.

14 The Medway Flood Action Plan | How we’re reducing the risk of flooding in the Medway catchment When will Action What we're going to do Where will this this work Owner Who else will support this work? work take place? happen?

In each borough Develop and publish Flood Risk to Communities documents for and district of all Kent districts and boroughs to explain all sources of flood Kent, including: 51 risk in an area, who is responsible for managing different flood Maidstone, 2017 Kent County Council All Risk Management Authorities risks, who will do what in an emergency and what is currently Tonbridge and planned to manage flood risk in the area. Malling, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks

Maidstone Borough Council, Tonbridge Continue to apply national planning policy and local and Malling approaches to the practical design of development and Borough Council, Kent County Council, Environment 52 Catchment wide Ongoing sustainable drainage systems to ensure that planning for new Tunbridge Wells Agency development reduces the risk of flooding. Borough Council, Sevenoaks District Council

Continue to encourage developers to have pre-application Kent County Council 53 discussions to ensure new development incorporates flood Catchment wide Ongoing and Environment risk management best practice. Agency

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Encourage Town and Parish Councils who are preparing Council, Tunbridge Wells Borough Neighbourhood Plans to consider sustainable drainage Kent Association of 54 Catchment wide Ongoing Council, Sevenoaks District Council, and flooding mitigation measures in their Plans where Local Councils appropriate. Maidstone Borough Council, Kent County Council, Environment Agency

The Medway Flood Action Plan | How we’re reducing the risk of flooding in the Medway catchment 15 Would you like to find out more about us, or about your environment?

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