Have floods proved flaw in the Batheaston plan?

Thursday, February 19, 2009

With the debacle of the Thermae Bath Spa still fresh in our minds, isn't the real issue with the eastern park and ride proposal on Bathampton Meadows that we can have no confidence in B&NES's ability to deal with the millions of gallons of flood water which lapped at the very fence of the proposed site on Tuesday, February 10, and covered the width of the valley right down to Mill Lane?

The 'consultants' at the Guildhall public exhibition meeting glibly talked about the 'once in 100 years flooding', but as any of the anorak and plastic sandal brigade will tell them, we're in the middle of rapid global warming. That is why the Environment Agency has just reviewed its flood level warnings.
If for no other reason than the risk of all the displaced water flooding down into the historic city of Bath if B&NES starts to 'play about' with an ancient flood plain, we need to hit this proposal on the head right now.

The present hierarchy in B&NES will certainly be remembered for the next 100 years if they get it wrong.

PAUL BOWDEN Bannerdown Road, Bath
 

I submit the latest photograph of the proposed park and ride at Bathampton. If this flooding is what occurs from a relatively small fall of snow and a few hours of rain with six acres of permeable surface then with an impermeable surface the run-off via the storm drain will quickly overwhelm the Avon to cause flooding at Batheaston and, shortly after, the centre of Bath, too.

The dangers of development in and adjacent to flood plains are well known and documented – and yet our councillors press on.

JEREMY HEFFER Solsbury Lane Batheaston, Bath