Rationalising the main river network: de-maining proposals
Applies to England
Detail of outcome
Following the public consultation, a decision was taken to transfer flood risk management activities on a number of watercourses in the South Forty Foot Catchment, Lincolnshire and Stour Marshes, Kent and South London.
See the Decision Notices for:
- Ewerby Catchwater, South Forty Foot Catchment
- Horbling (west), South Forty Foot Catchment
- Horbling (east), South Forty Foot Catchment
- Northlands Dyke, South Forty Foot Catchment
- Atkins Cut, South Forty Foot Catchment
- Pointon Lode, South Forty Foot Catchment
- Great Stour, Stour Marshes
We decided not to transfer flood risk management activities in Suffolk, East Anglia.
If anyone disagrees with the decision to de-main they can challenge the decision by email or in writing to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) within 6 weeks of the publication of the notice.
Feedback received
Detail of feedback received
Following consultation, we are pleased to announce that public response to the rationalising the main river network project has been gathered.
Overall, the consultation results indicated support for de-maining with the majority of respondents in favour of more localised decision making around flood risk management.
If we decide to proceed with de-maining we will publish a Decision Notice on GOV.UK and in local newspapers in each of the pilot locations.
If anyone disagrees with the decision to de-main they can challenge the decision by email or in writing to the Defra within 6 weeks of the publication of the Notice.
Original consultation
Consultation description
The Environment Agency proposes to transfer flood risk management activities on a number of stretches of watercourses to internal drainage boards (IDBs), lead local flood authorities (LLFAs) and district councils. This means that IDBs, LLFAs and district councils can take on more responsibility for their local flood risk where appropriate. The Environment Agency has been working with a number of IDBs, LLFAs and district councils to consider proposals to re-designate sections of watercourses in a number of locations. The watercourses will be re-designated from main river to ordinary watercourse - a change we refer to as de-maining.
The proposal is to re-designate sections of the watercourse in:
- Suffolk, East Anglia
- South Forty Foot Catchment, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire
- Stour Marshes, Kent and South London
All of these sections of watercourse have low levels of flood risk to people and property, and are not associated with major rivers or major population centres. The proposal is that this will strengthen local decision making. This helps IDBs, LLFAs and district councils to manage these stretches of watercourse and carry out works where they see fit for the benefit of local people.
This consultation explains all of the information in our proposals, including information about how the proposed sections of watercourses are currently managed and funded. The consultation also provides details on future management and funding if de-maining goes ahead.
Last updated 15 April 2020 + show all updates
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Consultation response documents moved from Citizen Space website to GOV.UK. Links to decision notices added.
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Details of final outcome published for South Forty Foot catchment.
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Public feedback to consultations published.
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The consultation is now live.
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South Forty Foot changed to South Forty Foot Catchment
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First published.