Andrew Dismore

Dear editor,

I had a sense of déjà vu on reading your coverage of the recent flooding on The Greenway. Such flash flooding is becoming more common, in part due to climate change.

In light of these severe floods, Barnet Council must  review its planning policies. The overdevelopment in the west of the borough and concreting over front gardens for parking space  have led to heavy rainwater  having  less chance to drain away naturally. Instead , it is finding its way into the surface water drains and watercourses beyond their  capacity to cope with  the increased volume of water, resulting in the   likelihood of flooding.   I have highlighted this  risk many times in my comments on various planning applications, but the Conservative controlled Planning Committee repeatedly ignored it.

We had exactly the same problem a few months ago from  the Silkstream in around Colindeep Lane and Rushgrove Park in Colindale, and in Farm Road, Edgware.

At the time, I organised a site inspection  with the Environment Agency and Barnet Council to look at the problem and see what could be done.  Both agreed to work  up a scheme to alleviate the flooding. I was promised that a plan would be developed by January, for a funding bid by April, with anticipated approval for the development of the  detailed design by July. It is  disappointing  that the Environment Agency and Barnet Council have yet to make progress  and honour this timetable .

The recent floods are a sad reminder of why such  works are so urgent, and it is high time both organisations speeded up their efforts to protect residents from this destructive and unpleasant hazard not of their own making.

Andrew Dismore AM

Labour London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden