Decision

Great Stour, Stour Marshes: decision about designation change

Updated 2 August 2019

Applies to England

1. Appeals now closed

The period for appealing the decision on Great Stour, Stour Marshes de-mainment has now closed.

The Statutory Main River Map will be formally changed to reflect the determination in August 2019.

The below is a record of the decision notice of the proposed change.

2. Detail of decision

After a period of consultation, the Environment Agency has decided to change the designation of a stretch of the Great Stour watercourse in the East Kent Stour Marshes from main river to ordinary watercourse.

The Environment Agency is making this change as a ‘determination’ under section 193C(1) of the Water Resources Act 1991. This determination represents a formal decision to change the main river map.

The effect of this determination is that the Great Stour watercourse between national grid reference (NGR) TQ 91205 49148 and NGR TQ 94386 45936 which is shown as a ‘deletion’ on the main river consultation map, shall no longer be treated as main river and shall be treated as ordinary watercourse.

The change will mean that the River Stour (Kent) Internal Drainage Board, will be responsible for the management of flood risk for this part of the watercourse. The Environment Agency will no longer have this responsibility.

If you wish to carry out works in or next to the watercourse, you may require the consent of the internal drainage board.

This change is part of the rationalising the main river network: de-maining proposals consultation.

3. How to view the changes

You can see the change on the main river map.

The proposed change is shown as a ‘deletion’ a red line on the map.

Or you can view the main river consultation map at:

Environment Agency
Rivers House
Canterbury
CT2 0AA

The change will appear as a appeal on the main river consultation map for 6 weeks after the date of publication of this notice, to allow for appeals to the decision.

The main river map will be formally changed to reflect the determination on 31 July 2019. If any appeal is submitted, then the map river map will retain the it’s proposed status of a until the appeal is determined. Then any change to the main river map will reflect the outcome of the appeal.

4. How to appeal (challenge the decision)

If you disagree with this decision you can appeal to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

If you wish to appeal, you should email explaining why you disagree with the decision to fmpso@defra.gsi.gov.uk

or write to:

Rationalising the Main River Network
FCERM team
Defra
3rd Floor Seacole Building (SW)
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

Please quote reference number MRV_100029 Great Stour, East Kent Stour Marshes when you contact Defra.

You must make any appeal to Defra by 18 July 2019.