Meeting re flood prevention for Kingston and Barham, held in Kingston Barn on 24
September 2014
Present:
CCC Cllr Mike Sole, Member Barham Downs Ward
KCC Cllr Martin Vye
Simon Cox, Asset Performance Technical Advisor, Environment Agency
Ted Edwards, CCC Drainage engineering manager
Chris Maw, KCC Kent Highways manager
Katie Lewis, KCC Kent Highways drainage manager
Cllr David Wood, Chairman Barham Parish Council
Amanda Sparkes, Clerk to Barham Parish Council
40 plus residents of Kingston and Barham
Welcome and introduction
Cllr Mike Sole thanked everyone for attending, and commented that as there was a good
turn out this showed how important the issue was. He explained he had been the city
councillor for the Barham Downs Ward since March 2014, when of course Barham and
Kingston were flooded. He wanted to make sure the floods were not forgotten and the
decisions for improvements fed back to residents.
Mike Sole explained that The City Council has a duty of care during floods in that it has a
legal duty to set up rest centres, arrange for temporary accommodation and generally assist
residents who have been flooded. Beyond that it is up to individual councils to decide on
what further steps they should take during and after a flood event, such as the distributing of
sandbags. The City Council has no legal responsibilities for The Nailbourne except where it
may own land adjacent to the river. The council has allocated £50,000 from reserves to be
spent this financial year on flood alleviation projects along the Nailbourne.
Presentation by the Environment Agency
Simon Cox gave a presentation and explained that the role of the Environment Agency is to:
- Coordinate with partners
- Warn and inform – issue flood warnings
- 24/7 on call duty officers
- Operate defences
- Check assets and remove blockages in watercourses
- Flood ambassadors supporting people in affected areas
- Monitoring ground water risk and supporting local authorities and water companies.
Simon advised that between December 2013 and February 2014 was the wettest two-month
period since 1910 and there was 265% of the local average.
Recovery works
Simon explained there is money available from central government following the recent
floods. The Environment Agency had bid nationally to this. The money may only be applied
for to be spent on repair works to Environment Agency’s existing assets damaged in floods,
such as flood defences, embankments, and weed screens in front of culverts. Work also has
to be delivered by 31 October 2014 (that is the assets are back to pre-flooding condition by
then.) Simon explained that Bridge and Littlebourne have works that fit this criteria but
Barham and Kingston do not.
Simon explained that the Environment Agency have put in a bid for funding to run detailed
flood modelling on the river Nailbourne from Bridge to Lyminge – to look at the best flood
prevention measures. This model would be used to test various flood risk management
options, and choose the best, economically viable and of greatest benefit options, without
increasing risk to others. Simon explained they should know the outcome of the bid for this
modelling exercise by the end of the year.
Existing flood risk measures
There is a management group covering the Litte Stour, Nailbourne and Petham Bourne
areas.
The meeting then went on to feedback on specific areas of concern:
Railway Hill
During the flooding there were still a lot of 4x4s on the South Barham Road going to the
Causeway and these created wash and damage to properties. Kent Highways are proposing
to put up a gate that can be closed quickly to prevent vehicular access. (A resident with
nearby access agreed to speak to Chris Maw separately – a solution may be that the
resident is given a key to allow access.)
Kent Highways also plan some works to scale out part of the road.
Ted Edwards advised the city council put out 3000 sand bags along South Barham Road
across Railway Hill and through to The Causeway He explained that the city council bid £50k
and KCC have given a further £50k for some temporary measures to be undertaken along
the full length of the Nailbourne by the end of January. At Derringstone they are looking at a
system called ‘flood stop’ – a temporary flood defence (that has been used successfully at
Sandwich) to replace the need for sandbags made up of big plastic boxes linked together
and filled with water. These can be installed in 3-4 hours and be up to 50cm in height. They
are not cheap and are difficult to store and will cost £10-£12k for this length. The city council
will store them and bring out when needed.
A dwarf wall at the upper end by the Barn house is also being looked into.
The Railway Hill footbridge is a listed structure, owned and maintained by Kent Structures.
Flows are impeded by it and the problem is lack of access as the ford is not passable.
Canterbury City Council are talking to English Heritage about an option to cut off the top of
the bridge and building it up higher to allow more flow below. English Heritage may say no to
this option, plus there is no funding in place for it yet, and it would be subject to a planning
application consent.
Other options could be to close the Causeway but some residents are against this. Or leave
the Causeway open and lower the area by the footbridge but that would then impede
pedestrians. Or to look at whether the bridge can be completely removed and replaced as is
elsewhere for prosperity. KCC, Kent Highways and Canterbury City Council are committed
to finding a solution, although none of the above would be in place by the end of 2014. If
approval is given, Chris Maw advised the works could be done next summer, funding
permitting. He did not think there was any utility apparatus beneath to slow things down. All
options were being kept open until the English Heritage response is given.
A resident asked if the bridge was raised whether there would still be something done with
The Causeway. Chris Maw replied he was not sure, the structures team were looking at this.
A resident commented that the road profile by the bridge has been changed over the years –
the road could be reshaped to help the river flow more freely. However the reply given
explained that to deepen it would only delay the point at which it reaches capacity.
A resident explained he had been in talks with the city council’s conservation officer and on
removing a flower bed he found four inches of tarmac. Since 1910 the road has been raised
by over nine inches by highways works. Surely to lower the road would alleviate the
problem? Chris Maw explained there is utility apparatus at a certain depth and to change the
height is massively expensive, plus there would be associated costs to lower kerbs. He
confirmed they have not looked at this suggestion as an option.
A resident stated that in 1996 the road by the ford was raised about 15 inches and this has
caused the problems with the bridge flow. Ted Edwards replied that to lower the road would
marginally increase the velocity but the culvert will still hold it back.
In answer to a question Chris Maw confirmed that Kent Highways were not going to raise the
levels of South Barham Road – but would be scouring out and doing patching repairs to the
same level. They would not be overlaying any sections. In response to further residents’
concerns he agreed to check certain existing higher points.
A further flood prevention measure is for a bund at the back of Derringstone House, although
this would be a long term option.
Cllr David Wood advised that access out from Railway Hill is poorly maintained with severe
potholes and this is more problematic when it’s flooded.
Out Elmstead Lane
There is the possibility to build a bund upstream along Valley Road, although the
Environment Agency are not sure how effective this might be and it needs further
investigation. Or an additional culvert alongside.
Residents of Out Elmstead Lane have problems with access when the road is closed –
exiting on to the A2 at the top without an acceleration lane. Chris Maw explained he is
talking to the Highways Agency but they do not think they can get an acceleration lane in,
but maybe some warning signs and road markings could be provided, together with
vegetation cut back. There may also be some scope about a temporary speed limit or
temporary acceleration lane during periods of road closure. Chris Maw advised he would like
to have some mechanism in place by January 2015.
Sandbags at the bottom of Out Elmstead Lane create a physical barrier for residents to get
out to take a bus. Chris Maw advised that he had seen photos of the temporary bridge that
had been provided during the floods of 2000, and he was looking to be able to do a similar
structure for future need. A resident commented that with ground water flooding there is
enough notice time. Another resident commented that the sandbags had been left at the
bottom of Out Elmstead Lane for too long after normal levels had resumed. Chris Maw and
Simon Cox confirmed their comments had been taken on board, subject to all road users
being taken in to account, and that the multi-agencies are all adding data and refining their
operational plans. A resident commented that there had been no sandbags in 2000 at the
bottom of Out Elmstead Lane. Chris Maw advised they were placed with the intention to
keep the arterial route open to ensure services could still access the village. However all
options would be looked at, within budget constraints.
A resident asked about the reinstatement of the green cats’ eyes at the top of Out Elmstead
Lane, taken away before the flooding, and Chris Maw confirmed he had talked to the
Highways Agency about them.
A resident asked about the stretch of Valley Road, from Out Elmstead Lane to the Black
Robin public house, and whether the whole road could be lifted by about 18 inches, as water
comes up from the ground. Chris Maw advised this would be a massive construction to raise
the road up and was not infact as easy as it sounds.
Ted Edwards advised that several culverts were installed in 2001, in areas deemed to be of
greatest need. If the size of the culvert at Out Elmstead Lane was increased this would
impact down river at the Black Robin and possibly put properties at risk.
Junction of The Street, Barham and Valley Road
The issues here are lack of capacity in the culvert and surface water issues on the hill.
Simon Cox advised they are looking at creating a small bund here.
The Old Post Office flooded from the front and the hotelier next door flooded from the side.
Kent Highways are planning works for this area, to complete by Christmas.
Katie Lewis advised Kent Highways are looking at attenuation measures also longer term
under the playing field. Cllr David Wood advised the village green status of the playing field
may have some restrictions.
Kingston – Black Robin public house
The culvert under the road here is undersize in extreme events, but it is very expensive to
place it and the multi-agencies are looking to see if a bund would help here. A resident
commented that the water flows through the culvert but there is restrictions by the pub as
there is concrete in the river bed.
There is also unconsented decking that does increase the flood risk – the environment
agency are in discussions with the owner to modify this.
Other comments
KCC Cllr Martin Vye asked if the Minutes of the multi-agency meetings may be shared with
the relevant parish councils.
He also spoke of a meeting held in February that had looked at ‘holding areas’ further up the
valley – possibly on land at Elham? Simon Cox explained it was a big scheme and they
would need to be clear about whether it would work and the costs involved. If the bid for
modelling is successful they would look further at this as a long term option. It would be
difficult with ground water type flooding to store it for months though.
A resident asked if there was any help for people with ground water flooding through the
floors of their homes. Ted Edwards replied no, however a resident said the agencies should
talk to Southern Water about extracting water. They have a controlled system for the water
table. The resident stated they extracted too much after the 2000 floods and were piping
water across to France. Simon Cox confirmed Southern Water is at multi-agency meetings
and he agreed to follow up this point. A long term fix to reduce the flow rate and lower the
aquifer level for example by pumping out to sea was also suggested, and Simon confirmed
nothing was off the table, but it would depend on the outcome of the bid, when all possible
solutions and scenarios could be modelled.
Dredging
Simon Cox confirmed that there is a three year programme with central government for
areas that would benefit from dredging. Barham and Kingston have been added to this, and
the outcome of the programme is awaited to see which areas put forward have been given
approval.
A resident mentioned that in the field between Out Elmstead Lane and the Black Robin there
are several springs that have recently bubbled up – will dredging make these worse?
Ted Edwards said that he understood that dredging would be done by the Environment
Agency where it would help such as at pinch points and for shingle in culverts.
Insurance Company problems
In answer to a question, Ted Edwards advised he could be contacted to write letters of
support for residents affected by flooding and in negotiation with their insurance companies.
Drains
Katie Lewis advised that Kent Highways cannot do all the drains as they simply do not have
enough resource, but they are to target and jet the worst ones in November 2014.
Water quality/contamination
Ted Edwards explained that Southern Water have done a lot of improvements over the last
2-3 years to prevent sewage entering the water supply. They have spent millions sealing
leaks in the main sewer but when water levels are very high it can’t cope. Southern Water
are now sealing some of the lateral sewer pipes.
During the 2014 floods Southern Water did supply mini treatment plants to deal with the
problem.
Thanks for multi-agency support
Residents of The Barn, South Barham Road thanked the multi-agencies for their support
during the 2014 floods, and sought a reassurance that they would receive help if needed
again. Everyone confirmed a commitment to a multi-agency response again.
Residents can – and did – help out too. Ted Edwards explained that KCC’s Emergency and
Resilience team are reinvigorating the Community Flood Wardens programme, and a four
hour training course is to be held on 11 October. Ted is to attend this and he invited
interested residents to contact him to find out more and attend the session.
Cllr Mike Sole thanked everyone for attending and for their input and the meeting closed at
9.10pm.