Residents ‘frightened’ by new homes drainage plan

RESIDENTS in Dunsden Green and Playhatch are concerned about the possibility of more frequent flooding once a housing development has been completed.

Developer Russell Edwards is building two new houses and is altering two existing semi-detached properties in Dunsden Green, having received planning permission from South Oxfordshire District Council in January.

But the planning authority placed 18 conditions on the approval, including one which stated surface water could not be discharged into a Thames Water foul sewer.

Despite this, a sustainable drainage system strategy, produced by RWA Consulting, civil and structural consulting engineers, has said combining surface water with the existing sewer system was the only viable option due to the characteristics of the site.

Thames Water has confirmed surface water could be discharged into its foul sewer at a restricted rate and the council’s drainage officer has agreed, although it requires approval by the council.

Under the proposal, the drainage system would be sized to deal with a worst-case one in 30-year storm, without any flows exiting and causing flooding.

John Plumer of Dunsden Green said the original condition not to permit surface water discharge into the foul sewer was the right one. He said: “In contravention of a direct black and white condition, the developer submitted designs, all of which discharged into the foul drain.

“The reason everybody is upset is that the same foul drain is the one that goes down the hill into Playhatch, which floods every year.

“The question is, why would the council allow a particular condition to be overrun? It should never have been discharged.

“What reasoning is there for them to go back on what is clearly going to cause harm to the public by a clear chance of more flooding?

“The practicalities of the water storage, which would allow for the slow release of the water into the drain, are absolutely questionable. Thames Water had serious concerns about it, so no wonder the people in Playhatch have real flooding concerns.

“I get quite upset about it because we’re not Nimbys, we’re concerned about the urban development in the countryside, which has absurd water discharge plans.”

John Goldsmith has lived in a property adjacent to the development for more than
30 years.

He said: “Thames Water is obliged to provide drainage services. However, this development, which is extensive for its plot size, cannot naturally discharge surface water and is seeking to divert it into the foul network, which is already at breaking point.

“The Playhatch pumping station is regularly overwhelmed with flooding, becoming more frequent.

“The nearby Dene Close development has already exacerbated the situation by blocking natural surface-water pathways, as highlighted in the consultants’ report.

“Residents in Playhatch are genuinely frightened. During the last flood, a mix of surface water and sewage came within inches of entering homes.

“To increase pressure on an already fragile network, in a changing climate with increasingly saturated ground, is simply unacceptable.”

Andrew Dunn, who lives in Playhatch, said the attempt to change the planning condition shows no indication of solving a potential flooding issue.

He said: “It seems strange, almost lazy that, in light of these known drainage and sewerage issues, the planning has been granted at all and the notion that all avenues have been exhausted.

“This amendment shows no real desire to solve the problem that has been highlighted.”

Jonathan Jarman, as associate of Bell Cornwell, the agent acting on behalf of Mr Edwards, said: “The application is for a small development that will provide family homes and will help towards South Oxfordshire District Council’s housing needs, as well as contributing to the Government’s objective of building 1.5m homes.

“The application has been robustly scrutinised, including through discussions with the council’s drainage officer and Thames Water.

“While we are sympathetic with the concerns raised by residents, a suitable drainage strategy has been agreed to ensure that the proposal will be delivered without causing flooding at the site or elsewhere.

“Thames Water has raised no objection to the application amending the relevant condition.”

The district council has launched an online consultation, which will remain open until Tuesday. It will make a final decision by December 26.