VOW’S RESPONSE TO HART ON THE FLOOD RISK

Thank you for taking the time to respond to our email.

The following link will take you to an aerial video,  and it shows you the severity of the surface water and groundwater flooding that occurs on the site https://muse.ai/vc/g7d4MTR . The video was taken on November 8, 2022.This level of flooding is a regular occurrence on the site in Autumn, Winter and Spring due to its Geology and location in a River Valley. The surface water you see in the video has been there for over two months and regular photographs have been taken since September 8, 2022 to record this.

The surface and groundwater flooding has actually been considerably worse than this in the past. In the video footage you will see the M3, and this is immediately adjacent to the site. The M3 is at the same level or slightly below the level of the site. The stretch of the M3, that you can see, has been formally assessed as a flooding hotspot by National Highways and is considered high risk (see attached National Highways Risk Assessment). In 2012, the area in and around the site suffered severe surface water and groundwater flooding that included the M3 and this was recorded as a severity 9 event, 10 being the highest,  on the National Highways Flood Severity Index (FSI). It brought the M3 to a standstill, caused 7-mile tailbacks and 2-hour delays https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-18408108 . There are two flood risk warning signs on the M3 immediately adjacent to the site for this reason and there have been other instances of flooding recorded by National Highways in the same area before and after the flooding event in 2012. As far as we are aware, these are the only flood risk warning signs on the M3, within the boundaries of Hart District Council. Hart District Council’s own Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (2016) also indicates that the site and surrounding area is a problem for surface water and groundwater flooding and it warns that placing a barrier to groundwater, in this case a 32 hectare barrier,  will cause groundwater levels to rise in the areas around the barrier.

Glanville’s Flood Risk Assessment submitted by the applicant concludes that the site is a “very low risk” for surface water and groundwater flooding. However, video and photographic evidence, historical evidence, and Local Authority, National Highways and Environment Agency Risk Assessments all tell a completely different story.

You suggested in your email that we should channel these issues through the Council’s Flood Risk Engineer. We should be grateful if you could connect us to the Engineer and forward this email and attachment to them.

Thank you again for your time and assistance in this matter.