Flood Risk Information and Flood Warning
Flooding may occur because a river overtops its banks or because the flow of surface water (rainwater) exceeds the capacity of the drainage system. The Environment agency publish maps of the risk from both causes. The links below open maps for South Ashford.
Map of flood risk from surface water
The Environment Agency issue alerts for properties in a flood risk area when there is a possibility of flooding.
Check if you are in a warning area here. People living or working in the warning areas can register to receive warnings by phone, text and/or e-mail on gov.uk or by telephone to 0345 988 1188. If an Alert is issued it will be shown here.
Preparing for Flood
Prepare for a flood to reduce the disruption you will suffer as a result:
- Find out if you’re at risk (refer to links above)
- Register for Flood Warnings (details of how to register are given above)
- Make a flood plan (use template from gov.uk)
- Improve your property’s flood protection (refer to gov.uk)
- Get insurance
- Further information is available from the National Flood Forum
Managing flood risks:
Who is responsible
Defra has overall national responsibility for policy on flood and coastal erosion risk management, and provides funding for flood risk management authorities through grants to the Environment Agency and local authorities.
The Environment Agency
The Environment Agency is responsible for taking a strategic overview of the management of all sources of flooding and coastal erosion. This includes, for example, setting the direction for managing the risks through strategic plans; providing evidence and advice to inform Government policy and support others; working collaboratively to support the development of risk management skills and capacity; and providing a framework to support local delivery. The Agency also has operational responsibility for managing the risk of flooding from main rivers, reservoirs, estuaries and the sea, as well as being a coastal erosion risk management authority. As part of its strategic overview role, the Environment Agency has published a National Flood and Coastal Risk Management Strategy for England. The strategy provides a lot more information designed to ensure that the roles of all those involved in managing risk are clearly defined and understood.
Kent County Council
Kent County Council is the Lead Local Flood Authority and is responsible for developing, maintaining and applying a strategy for local flood risk management in their area and for maintaining a register of flood risk assets. They also have lead responsibility for managing the risk of flooding from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses.
Ashford Borough Council
Ashford Borough Council is a key partner in planning local flood risk management and can carry out flood risk management works on minor watercourses, working with Kent County Council and others, including through taking decisions on development in their area which ensure that risks are effectively managed.
River Stour (Kent) Internal Drainage Board
River Stour (Kent) Internal Drainage Board, is an independent public body responsible for water level management in low lying areas, which also plays an important role in the area it covers, working in partnership with other authorities to actively manage and reduce the risk of flooding.
Highway Authorities
Highway Authorities (including The Highways Agency and Kent County Council) are responsible for providing and managing highway drainage and roadside ditches, and must ensure that road projects do not increase flood risk.
Southern Water
As the Water and Sewerage Company, Southern Water are responsible for managing the risks of flooding from water and foul or combined sewer systems providing drainage from buildings and yards.
Duty to co-operate
Under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 all risk management authorities mentioned above have a duty to co-operate with each other and to share data. A key theme of the Pitt Review was for flood risk management authorities to work in partnership to deliver flood risk management better to the benefit of their communities.
Southern Regional Flood and Coastal Committee
Eleven Regional Flood and Coastal Committees have been established in England. These are responsible for ensuring coherent plans are in place for identifying, communicating and managing flood and coastal erosion risks across catchments and shorelines; for promoting efficient, targeted investment in flood and coastal erosion risk management; and for providing a link between flood risk management authorities and other relevant bodies to develop mutual understanding of flood and coastal erosion risks in their areas.
Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) through Local Planning Authorities has a key role in the planning process to ensure flood risk is appropriately taken into account in the planning process. The policy on how to take flood risk into account can be found in the National Planning Policy Framework. MHCLG are also responsible for Building Regulations.
Paraphrased from flood risk management page on gov.uk