Maria Miller MP recently visited the Sherfield Park Sustainable Drainage System (SUD), with local borough Councillor Paul Miller and leader of Sherfield Park Parish Council Chris Circuit. SUDs are designed and incorporated into some new housing estates to help ensure that surface rainwater runs away from homes and doesn’t unnecessarily enter the sewage system.
Maria said, “I welcome the Government’s announcement earlier this month in the Environmental Improvement Plan, that Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems, like this one in Sherfield Park, will be required in all new developments, taking rainwater away from homes but not into the sewer, to reduce the pressure on our sewage works. In Basingstoke our sewage works can get inundated with surface rainwater at times of heavy rainfall. Water that isn't sewage and doesn't need treating can end up at the sewage works simply because builders link rainwater pipes to sewage pipes rather than plan, and construct a proper SUD. The change announced means new schemes will have to include a more responsible way to deal with rainwater and so take pressure off our sewage works. I will be looking closely at Basingstoke’s new local plan to ensure it reflects that.
“To be effective SUD’s must be well maintained, so when any planning applications are considered a maintenance plan for the SUDs should be included too”.
Cllr Paul Miller said, “After a visit to the Balancing Ponds at Sherfield Park it is evident that the well-designed system put into place to cater for the surface water run-off from the residential estate, while well intentioned, is not working as well as it should. A funded maintenance scheme needs to be in place to clear the regular build-up of mud, leaves and other detritus which can prevent the system working effectively, and the resultant seasonal flooding compromises the utility of the public amenity space.
“The principal cause of the lack of maintenance is the delay in reaching an agreement between the Local Planning Authority and developer. Ideally, should have been finalised when planning consent was originally agreed. It is essential for a timely working protocol to be established for the process of adoption in these cases, and to establish an appropriate maintenance regime”.
Chris Circuit, leader of Sherfield Park Parish Council said, “Sustainable Drainage Systems are an integral part of the natural green infrastructure of Sherfield Park, but in order to remain effective they need regular maintenance to ensure that the water run offs flow properly”.
Maria said, “The experience of residents in Sherfield Park shows how rainwater can be better dealt with through SUDs but that any scheme needs to also have an agreed and funded maintenance scheme too. I shall be pressing the planning authority to take this approach in the new Local Plan now SUDs are required in all new developments.”
