Letter to editors on flooding
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