Enfield Council Planning Committee have approved the Environment Agency's Salmons Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme.

Voting on party lines, sadly this had become a political East/West, Left/Right issue.The Grange Park protesters are not against flood alleviation schemes per se, have sympathies for residents who have been flooded, but concerned about the way this one was foistered on Grange Park, without due consideration of the residents, their property or whether there could be alternative ways of alleviating the flood risk in Edmonton, which might be cheaper and more equitable solutions.

There were no concessions, Uplands Way will bear the brunt of the traffic. Work begins in the Spring.This Grange Park resident sums up the situation very succintly.

"As a Grange Park resident I would like to thank all those involved in opposing the EA's SBFAS application. Perhaps when the scheme is implemented the apathetic majority will appreciate the huge amount of time and effort these people invested in trawling through the detail. Their challenge against the huge resources of the EA and Council should be applauded; it is a shame for Grange Park that this process was seemingly ultimately pre determined. Although never about party politics, the fact that planning committee voting went with party lines is disappointing. Unfortunately for the people of Enfield, the Labour led Council administration's  approval of this scheme marks at best a questionable approach to financial expenditure. This is particularly concerning bearing in mind the current constraints on the public purse; perhaps this will be remembered by the voting majority at the next opportunity".

More details can be found on the Grange Park At Risk website http://gpar.org.uk/

This leaflet was circualted across 1,000 households in Grange Park during the week of October 29th 2012.

If you didn't receive it, you may still want to lodge an objection to the project.

You can read some of the technical argeuments underpinning this campaign on the N21nline.com message board, using this link

1. There are concerns that DEFRA was given misleading funding to secure the priority funding for the Salmons Brook Flood Alleviation Project. Is the scheme really required,in this day and age is it money we can afford?
2. Analysis of data suggests that the modelling and statistical data used for the modelling is flawed.
3. There has been inadequate consideration given to alternative options.
4. The consultation has been flawed from the beginning, The Environment Agency project team seem unable (to unwilling) to respond to questions.
5. The Planning application has not been available on the Council website for the statutory period of time, due to broken links.
6. The Cheyne Walk Open Space was designated a Site of Importance For Nature Conservation (SINC) by Enfield Council in November 2011.
7. The EA have not taken seriously residents' concerns, including the need for structural surveys along the route in Grange Park, where damage is highly likely to properties, roads, kerbs & trees. Without surveys, it will be very difficult for residents to seek compensation.
8. The revised traffic management plan with a two way movement of lorries along Uplands Way is intolerable for people living in Uplands Way and there has been no risk assessment on health and safety no consideration given to local population of children and elderly.
9. Little consideration for road safety, for school children or cyclists, especially on dangerous junctions such as Mason's Corner
10. There has been no further flooding since 2000, the Environment Agency allowed planning permission to lapse in 2005 - SO, WHY THE RUSH?

READ SOME OF THE OBJECTIONS SUBMITTED TO ENFIELD COUNCIL HERE

READ DAVID BURROWES'S ONJECTIONS HERE

CLICK ON THE IMAGE FOR UP TO DATE NEWS ON SALMONS BROOK FLOOD ALLEVIATION SCHEME AND THE FORTHCOMING PUBLIC MEETING

Read the revised route proposals, which have been submitted to Enfield Council here

Click on the image to view the presentation

Read a statement from David Burrowes & the Grange Ward councillors here

The Environment Agency held an exhibition at Highlands School on March 27th to provide an update on the Salmons Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme.  This is an opportunity for local residents to meet members of the team and council representatives.

The exhibition was well attended with many local residents expressing concern about the project, in particular the prospect of around 60 heavy lorries a day travelling both ways along Uplands Way. It is not just the congestion that is a worry but also the vibrations which could result in structural damage. This is a problem that the Environmental Agency are anticipating as they have agreed to undertake structural surveys on properties in proximity to the site, prior to the work starting, which would become a starting point for further monitoring.

Despite the Environmental Agency’s stated plan to apply to Enfield Council for planning permission to begin work on the Salmons Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme this Autumn, it has just been announced that no planning application will now be made until the Spring of 2012, which will push the start date for the work back to the second half of 2012.

This a major project, which will impact on residents, in particular the allotment holders on Cheyne Walk, Worlds End Lane and also Enfield Golf Club. The Environment Agency plans to build a new embankment to store floodwater during periods of high water flow, to reduce the risk of flooding further downstream in Edmonton.  The work will entail heavy lorries on our local roads, not dissimiliar to the recent Network Rail work, through residential Grange Park roads.

CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO DOWN THE LATEST ENVIRONMENT AGENCY SALMONS BROOK FLOOD ALLEVIATION SCHEME