Andrew Griffith
This week I was honoured to meet brave and dedicated representatives from our emergency services at Lancing College, at a chapel service arranged jointly by the High Sherrifs of East and West Sussex to celebrate the contribution of the Sussex Police, South East Coast Ambulance Service, St Johns’ Ambulance and many other professional and volunteer services.
All these agencies perform vital services all year round and their value has been especially clear during the storm season. The RNLI especially have been doing heroic work recently, braving enormous waves to rescue stricken victims carried away by the sea.
Locally, the ensuing inland floods have especially impacted the Arun and Adur river valleys, which has seen several road closures including the A29/swan Bridge at Pulborough (which also saw its High Street submerged), the A281 just outside of Henfield, Shermanbury Road at Partridge Green, Lower Street in Fittleworth, and Station Road at Petworth. These closures have had a real impact on residents ability to travel and have significantly disrupted the usual traffic patterns. I have been in regular contact with the Environment Agency concerning their response to these floods, as well as the ongoing recovery issues of the flood defences at River Road in Arundel. As I said in my interview with BBC South on last Thursday, whilst I pay tribute to the Environment Agency’s magnificent job, I have urged their long term plans for flood management be put on hold whilst we take time to reflect and respond to recent events. I also called on the Housing Secretary to reconsider the development plans which would see more residential developments within the South Downs’ watershed.
I was therefore very encouraged to hear that the Environment Agency chief, Sir James Bevan, agrees new housing developments on flood plains should be avoided wherever possible. He goes further and suggests design changes to take into account the damage risk of burst rivers. These are all interesting points and I would encourage the Government to consider including them into their planning strategy for the South Downs. I have raised flooding a number of times in the House, with ministers and the relevant agencies since I was elected in December, and I will continue to represent residents’ planning and flooding concerns.
Next surgeries, by appointmentonly: Upper Beeding (February 29), Arundel (March 6) and Hurstpierpoint (March 13). Please email michelle@ andrewgriffithmp.com for an appointment.