£6.5m for flood defence

A FLOOD defence strategy for Lewes, costing about 6.5 million, has been given the blessing in principle of the all-important Sussex Flood Defence Committee.

But the scheme to heighten river walls and embankments will leave large areas of the town still at risk, including Landport, Malling Deanery and North Malling.

The recommended strategy is to provide improved flood defences at Malling Brooks, the Cliffe from Phoenix Causeway to South Street, from Willey's bridge to the Winterbourne Stream and to North Street and Talbot Terrace.

But flood defence manager Rupert Clubb told the committee, meeting on Wednesday: 'The information available at present suggests that there is no economic case for providing specific flood defences to the Landport or North Malling areas, though the North Malling area derives some benefit from the low embankment along the river.

'However, it would be possible for individual property owners, particularly of the lowest houses in Landport and North Malling, to increase the standard of their own flood defences in conjunction with Agency advice.

'There also does not appear to be an economic case for improving the flood defences for Malling Deanery.

'However, if a cost effective scheme can be developed for Malling Deanery, it should be supported, provided it does not interfere with the proper functioning of the flood plain, otherwise individual property owners should be encouraged to provide their own flood defences.'

For Lewes to Newhaven, the recommended strategy is to explore with English Nature the opportunity for creation of a floodplain for the Lewes Brooks.