In a week where much of England has experienced exceptional rainfall and floods the people of Eastleigh have mercifully escaped. However the High Court decision this week to allow building on Eastleigh's allotments will only bring that risk of flooding closer. Just today I heard a professor from Liverpool's John Moores University stating on the radio that building houses, roads and paving gardens all increases the risk of flash floods. He urged people to keep woodlands and green spaces within towns as these absorbed up to 50% of the water falling on them.
If, as the Lib Dem run council in Eastleigh desire, these two prime sites are sold off for hundreds more houses the risk of flooding to low lying parts of Eastleigh will incrase dramatically.
We have been warned by this week's weather!
It is a sad week for Eastleigh people. A couple of years ago 14 000 people signed a petition to keep Eastleigh's South Street and Woodside allotments. Hundreds of people are on waiting lists for allotments near their homes. We are being encouraged to go green, grow our own, reduce the food miles, eat more fruit and vegetables, get fit by undertaking more exercise, plant more trees - all things which are promoted by having an allotment. Yet because of overpopulation in the South of England and poor planning of housing needs we are forced to relinquish one of our most precious assets.
Tuesday 26 June 2007
Flooding and the Eastleigh Allotments High Court Decision.
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7 comments:
Sad week for Eastleigh?
Its a great week for Eastleigh!
Those narrow minded allotment campaigner have got the kick in the teeth they deserved.
I for one was celebrating when I heard the news.
Were you around in Eastleigh last autumn. There were many roads flooded after heavy rain. The sewers in Eastleigh can't cope at present.
Eastleigh has experienced floods before. In 1953 Monks Brook flooded into Passfield Avenue. A resident of Magpie Lane told me recently that she remembers wading with water up to her knees along Passfield Road during that flood. If it happened then when there were far fewer houses in Eastleigh then there must be a real chance it will happen again. I do hope our councillors will think again about building on allotments - perhaps parts of them could be made into a woodland park?
Thanks for your blog. It is nice to hear that someone else is concerned about the building situation in Eastleigh.
Why are the councillors here so determined to build everywhere? How will it benefit them?
The areas the Council are proposing for new housing are not areas identified as significant flood risks on the Environment Agency's flood maps.
Magpie Lane is identified as at significant risk of flooding from Monks Brook.
Anyone building a house can check the Environment Agency's flood maps. If people buy houses in areas at significant risk of flooding then they only have themselves to blame and should go bleating to the government to be bailed out when things go wrong.
Re Dr Matthews'comment. He states that the areas the Lib Dem Council are proposing for new housing are not areas identified as significant flood risk, but Magpie Lane is a significant flood risk.
There are proposals to demolish the Nightingale Centre and build many flats and houses on the site, right next to Monks Brook in Magpie Lane. Perhaps Dr Matthews you should warn the Lib Dem council of the dangers of such a silly plan.
Re Dr Matthews'comment. He states that the areas the Lib Dem Council are proposing for new housing are not areas identified as significant flood risk, but Magpie Lane is a significant flood risk.
There are proposals to demolish the Nightingale Centre and build many flats and houses on the site, right next to Monks Brook in Magpie Lane. Perhaps Dr Matthews you should warn the Lib Dem council of the dangers of such a silly plan.
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