Southern Water rebuked again
Investigators of town centre floods demand further data
PAUL McLAUGHLIN
Southern Water has been roundly criticised once again – this time over its failure to provide crucial data to an independent inquiry set up to investigate the devastating flood which wreaked such havoc across Hastings town centre back in January.
Local residents and business owners will not need reminding of the shocking impact of the flood, which followed the most prolonged period of rainfall to hit the town since 1943. The intensity of the rain combined with relatively high tides overwhelmed the local flood defence system and left much of the Priory Meadow Shopping Centre under water. The resulting damage took months to clear up and cost many millions of pounds.
Several homes and businesses in South Terrace, Station Road, York Gardens, Pelham Street, Wellington Place and Denmark Place were also flooded. There was widespread flooding across Alexandra Park and the surrounding area, too, as water levels exceeded the capacity of the banks and ponds within the park.
Formal investigation
When the waters finally subsided, East Sussex County Council, as the lead Local Flood Authority, agreed to carry out a formal investigation under Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. The purpose was to identify exactly what happened, why the damage was quite so extensive, and what measures could be taken to ensure the town is better prepared for abnormal weather events in the future.
Hastings Borough Council (HBC), the Environment Agency, Southern Water, and local MP, Sally-Ann Hart, all endorsed this approach, and agreed to meet when the investigation concluded to discuss the report and consider any short, medium, and long-term changes that may be necessary. They also agreed to lobby for additional resources that may be required to build resilience in the town centre.
Ardent Consulting Engineers, the independent consultants appointed to undertake the investigation, delivered what they describe as only an “interim report” to East Sussex CC on 2 June. They say they were unable to present a final report because Southern Water have failed to provide their investigatory team with “any records of flooding or reports of flooding on or around16 January or details of call-outs/attendance by Southern Water engineers.”
They also complained that Southern Water had not forwarded any sewer-level monitoring data available within Hastings, including in the storm relief tunnel; details of the works on the culverted watercourse outfall including proposals, timelines and temporary pumping details; nor explained “the reason for the addition of the manhole on the culverted watercourse along South Terrace (constructed in approximately 2019).”
Blocked by gravel and shingle
The Ardent engineers have acknowledged in their interim report the severity of the heavy rainfall which, along with the high tides, caused the emergency pumps to stop working in and around Priory Meadow. This resulted in the flooding of several basement and ground floor properties in the adjacent streets where they are connected to the combined sewers. But the team of investigators found that the sewers and manholes had been blocked by gravel and shingle deposited over the years which, whilst not the single cause of the flooding, contributed to its severity.
They also acknowledge that Southern Water had “participated fully in the investigation”, but pointedly noted that, without the detailed records and data, the investigation could not conclude, as they would not be able to identify precisely what went wrong; they would, therefore, not be able to recommend a way forward to ensure such extensive flooding never happens again.
Paul Barnett, leader of HBC, said he was “pleased with the quick response from all agencies after the awful January flood and the agreement to publish and debate the independent report into what happened, why it happened and what we can all do to prevent future flooding.”
He added, however, that it was “very frustrating that four months later we have only an interim report. Southern Water have not provided all the information needed to complete the detailed findings, so I will be writing to them asking for urgent action on this, as well as all the other major issues we are looking to them to resolve across the town.”
A spokesperson for Southern Water, said: “As the Ardent report states, we are fully participating in this investigation. We would urge Ardent to get in touch with us if they require further information.”
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article. The future of our volunteer led, non-profit publication would be far more secure with the aid of a small donation. You can also support local journalism by becoming a friend of HIP. It only takes a minute and we would be very grateful.
Southern Water claims that “As the Ardent report states, we are fully participating in this investigation. We would urge Ardent to get in touch with us if they require further information”. This offer to provide further information rings a little hollow considering their refusal to release documents concerning sewage discharge under Environmental Information Regulations following an ICO ruling.
If Southern Water won’t release information when requested by the ICO, what chance is there that they will release all information available to the independent inquiry voluntarily?
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/14/southern-water-refuses-order-to-release-memos-about-sewage-discharges?fbclid=IwAR1uA8rOztME6A5U-rTysQ2VkLDsJztVkfDUD9sRLR4rGkzgSIYoTw2wlGA