BOSHAM  PARISH COUNCIL VILLAGE FLOOD PLAN     Print Version (pdf)

1.0    INTRODUCTION

1.1      This is the official Bosham Parish Council Village Flood Plan, outlining precautions and actions to be taken with respect to local flooding.

1.2      Details in the plan concentrate on the operational aspects of flooding, e.g. protecting life and property and managing the flood.

2.0    FLOOD WARNINGS

2.1      The Environment Agency’s Local Flood Warning Plan provides details of the flood warning arrangements for specific Flood Warning Areas where there is a risk of flooding from rivers or the sea

2.2      There are four warning codes issued by the EA:

2.3      Flood Watch is a general alert concerning flooding from rivers, streams, ditches, watercourses, estuaries and the sea. Flood Warnings and Severe Flood Warnings relate to specific Flood Warning Areas at risk of flooding from rivers and the sea.

2.4      The Bosham Parish Council Water Bailiff is registered with the EA to receive such warnings. The information will be disseminated in procedures detailed in the Bosham Local Flood Plan.

 3.0    FLOODING EVENT

3.1      The main types of flooding event referred to in this plan and applicable to Bosham are:-

·        TIDAL SURGE                 (Sea)

·        FLUVIAL                           Bosham Stream

·        FLASH                              (Roads, ditches, fields)

·        GROUNDWATER                        (High water table)

·        SEWAGE                          (Sewers, rising mains and pumping stations)

4.0    LEVEL OF RESPONSE

4.1      The level of response from the Bosham Parish Council to a flooding incident will depend on what is flooded or is at risk of being flooded. There are five priority categories:-

4.2      There are other factors which may influence the level of a response. Priority is likely to be given to the old or infirm when assisting people and to occupied property when protecting property. The classification of roads may be used in prioritising responses to road flooding and the protection of commercial property may depend on the risk of environmental pollution from stored chemicals etc.

 4.3              In Bosham there is occasional flooding and property owners and occupiers are fully aware of the situation. In such cases the riparian owners and occupiers have been made aware that they must make their own arrangements to protect their property from flooding and have all received letters as riparian owners. The authorities will assist when able where flooding is caused by Tidal Surge

5.0   AUTHORITIES INVOLVED

5.1      The following organisations may be involved in direct specific action during a flooding event. Property owners are listed as it is their responsibility to protect their own property from flooding.

·        ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

·        WEST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL (Highways Department)

·        CHICHESTER DISTRICT COUNCIL

·        BOSHAM PARISH COUNCIL (Water Bailiff and specified local individuals)

·        WEST SUSSEX FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE

·        SOUTHERN WATER

·        PORTSMOUTH WATER

·        ELECTRICITY, GAS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES

·        PROPERTY OWNERS

6.0    ACTION LISTS

6.1       ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

The principal actions of the EA are :-

·        Issue flood warnings specifically to the Water Bailiff.

·        Receive and record details of all flooding incidents

·        Monitor the situation and advise other organisations

·        Deal with emergency repairs and blockages on main rivers and own structures

·        Respond to pollution incidents

·        Advise on waste disposal issues

6.1.1        In the Bosham area they are responsible for the following:

Control of the A27 penstock.

Bosham Stream.

East Ditch (after the COWS designation section).

Central Watercourse west of Benedicts (formerly Bosham Service Station)

Churchfield Stream and exit sluices.

6.2     WEST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

The principal actions of the County Council are:-

·        Co-ordinate emergency arrangements

·        Maintain safe conditions on the roads

·        Put flood warning signs on the highway

·        Organise road closures and traffic diversions

·        Clear blockages on highway drainage systems including grips and gulleys

·        May take action to protect property from flooding by water from the highway where there is a failure of the highway drainage system

6.2.1    In Bosham they are responsible for the following:

The drainage system leading from Bosham Lane to the Central Watercourse (up to Benedict’s Pond) and from Canute Road pipe to SW corner of ‘Barnacles’.

6.3       CHICHESTER DISTRICT COUNCIL

The principal actions of the Chichester District Council are:-

·        Co-ordinating role for the area

·        Flood warning dissemination (By local agreement with EA)

·        Emergency assistance  (S138 LGA 1972) - provide sandbags (see 6.4 below)

·        Clear blocked watercourses etc. (Land Drainage Act powers)

·        Environmental health issues - pollution

·        Blocked road channels & gully gratings - street cleaning

·        Emergency planning support groups

·        To evacuate people at risk and provide temporary accommodation, set up and run rest centres

6.3.1    In Bosham they are responsible for the following:

            Walton Lane/Chequer Lane drainage (riparian owners)

            The pipe under Walton Farm glasshouses for draining Chequer Lane (riparian owners)

6.4       BOSHAM PARISH COUNCIL

The principal actions of the Parish Council are:-

·        Employ a Water Bailiff/Flood Warden

·        Flood warning dissemination (See below)

·        Inform local population how to obtain sandbags and sand to protect known flooding areas

6.4.1     The Bosham Local Flood Plan enables flood warnings to be disseminated to individuals within the Parish boundary and details actions to be carried out. This document will be kept up to date by the Parish Council Water Bailiff.

6.5       WEST SUSSEX FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE

The principal actions of the Fire and Rescue Service are:-

·        Rescue

·        Respond to all emergency incidents as required

·        Assist the populace where a need is identified and the use of fire service personnel and equipment is relevant

6.5.1     Help pump excess water from Churchfield/Stumps End storage area if it is overwhelmed.

            Help provide sandbags only where a flood could not reasonably have been anticipated i.e. in Tidal Surge Conditions.
 

6.6     SOUTHERN WATER COMPANY (Responsible for drainage and sewerage system)

The principal actions of Southern Water are:-

·        Emergency over pumping or tankering at pumping stations

·        Clearing blockages in public sewers and outfall grilles (for sewage)

·        Repairing burst sewage systems

·        May take action to protect property from flooding or discharges from the public sewerage systems

·        Provision of portable toilets in some cases

6.6.1     The Town Hall, Main Road, Critchfield Lane, Windmill Nursery, Stanbury Close, Southwood Farm and Taylors Lane pumping stations and in addition to do all that is possible to avoid sewage entering the harbour.

6.7       PORTSMOUTH WATER

  The principal actions of Portsmouth Water are:-

·        Repairing burst mains systems

·        Provision of fresh water supplies if necessary

6.8       ELECTRICITY, GAS AND TELECOMMUNICATION COMPANIES

The principal actions of the electricity and gas companies are:-

·        Attend to emergencies relating to their service at properties putting life at risk as a result of flooding

·        Attend to flooding emergencies at their own service installations

6.9       PROPERTY OWNERS

The principal actions of owners of property at risk of flooding or which is flooded are:-

·        Move to a safe area if life is at risk

·        Prevent water from entering property if possible

·        Switch off electricity and gas supplies at mains

·        Move valuable possessions above floor areas liable to be flooded

6.9.1     Inform Water Bailiff (or deputies) immediately of flood or threatened flood.
 

7.0    CONTACTS AND COMMUNICATION LINKS

7.1       CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBERS

8.0   FLOOD RISK AREAS

Risk is low IF routine maintenance is carried out:

Walton Lane (ditch, run off)

Chequer Lane (ditch, run-off)

Stumps End (storage area, run-off via ditches)

Bosham Lane, near former Bosham Service Station (drainage run-off) and also excess water from Green’s field system to the north.

Shore Road and surrounds (tidal surge)

[Refer to 2001 Bosham Association Flood Report and subsequent amendments]

9.0   SANDBAG PROVISION (See Appendix A)

9.1      Sandbags may be purchased from Covers or the Building Centre, Westhampnett. WSCC no longer stock sandbags. Filler equipment may be loaned from Mr D Lowsley of Chichester DC see contact details 7.1. The Parish Council may also consider organising a local site within the village to distribute filled sandbags.
 

10.0  FOLLOW UP ACTION

10.1    The following action is advised during and after a flooding incident:-

·        Keep people informed of what is going on and implement media plan when appropriate by using Bosham village website. Data will be provided by the Water Bailiff.

·        The Water Bailiff to provide information to WSCC disaster team/planning support groups to enable them to assist and advise affected property owners.

·        Water Bailiff to maintain action and records

·        Water Bailiff to investigate flooding and EA to record information including flood levels

·        Local property owners to supply details of properties flooded the extent of flooding and flood levels to the EA.

·        Water Bailiff/Chichester DC to inform riparian owners of remedial measures needed to watercourses.

10.2     Related reports:-

·        Bosham Association Flood Report 2001 and subsequent amendments identifies problem areas.

·        Bosham Local Flood Plan

11.0  LOCAL CO-ORDINATION (Refer to Bosham Local Flood Plan)
 

APPENDIX A

SANDBAG PROTOCOL FOR WEST SUSSEX

1.         INTRODUCTION

There is a broad expectation in the mind of the general public that, in a period of likely flooding, the ‘local authority’ will make sandbags available. This is not the case and much needs to be done to counter this perception.

Arguments to encourage householders to take responsibility themselves include the installation of smoke and burglar alarms, which are the householder’s responsibility and not that of the emergency services.

2.         OVERVIEW OF SANDBAG PROVISION

It is generally accepted that the provision of sandbags by local authorities and the Environment Agency covers the following areas:

·         Environment Agency – prevention of major breaches or overtopping of water courses.

·         West Sussex County Council – prevention of flooding of the highway and from the highway to adjacent properties.

·         West Sussex Borough / District Councils –assessment of flooding to private properties. For commercial properties, see below.

·         Additionally West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service hold a small stock of sandbags for immediate use in cases where there is an urgent and imminent threat to either life or property. Even in such cases a risk assessment is still required to ensure this protocol is not breached.

3.         LOCAL AUTHORITY SANDBAG PROTOCOL

3.1              Requests for sandbags. Sandbag requests from members of the public will only be considered when occupied residential properties are in imminent danger of flooding. Sandbags will not be provided for protecting gardens, outbuildings or other structures.

a.      Requests should be channelled through the appropriate Local Authority Emergency Centre. Where there is doubt about the validity of the request and time is available, a form of risk assessment will be undertaken to assess both the priority of need and actual risk associated with the flooding. The local co-ordinator will invite a representative of the Fire and Rescue Service / Highway Network Services / District Council to investigate the request. Before reporting back consideration must be given to the suitability of the premises being protected by sandbags.

b.      In the event of a refusal to supply sandbags then the local co-ordinator must ensure that the decision and reasons for the decision are entered on the log sheet.  If the local co-ordinator is in any doubt, he should refer the matter to the County Emergency Centre for resolution.

3.2       Commercial premises. Commercial premises are normally responsible for carrying out their own risk assessments for flooding and if necessary for ordering their own supplies of sandbags. In exceptional circumstances sandbags may be provided by local authorities, but this should be a local decision and should not be allowed to be used as a precedent.

3.3       Parish Councils If appropriate, a Parish Council can request the delivery of sandbags to a secure area where that council will then take responsibility for the storage, maintenance and local delivery of their own stocks. The question of quantities, delivery and disposal will be subject to agreement at the time the request is made.

4.                  LOCAL AUTHORITY SANDBAG STOCKS

To enable effective planning and possible mutual support, each West Sussex local authority has agreed to maintain a stockpile of sandbags to reflect its immediate and medium term needs.

5.                  DELIVERY OF SANDBAGS

Subject to an assessment of need, local authorities will where possible deliver sandbags to householders. Where sandbags are provided, they become the responsibility of the person receiving them.  No local authority will accept liability for their placement or any subsequent action. Neither will local authorities be responsible for collecting and disposing of issued sandbags.

6.                  LOCAL SUPPLIERS OF SANDBAGS

All local authorities should maintain lists of local suppliers of sandbags which can be made available to those not fulfilling the criteria for free supply and delivery.

 Contact the Water Bailiff

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