Water, water everywhere ...

The planning application for the extension of the Newbridge park and ride includes statements from B&NES Council's consultants specifically referring to the fact that the area is likely to flood, causing flood water to flow over the existing car park and onto the A4 Newbridge Road.

The surface water from this proposed development is intended to be discharged into an existing surface water sewer controlled by Wessex Water Authority (WWA), and, in order to protect their interests they have placed a restriction of 6 litres per second on the rate of discharge to their sewer; far less than the expected run off from the site.

Calculations have shown that the measures proposed to accommodate the excess surface water are inadequate and that the site will flood causing irreparable damage to the remaining part of the Nature Conservation Area and a danger to road traffic and pedestrians using the A4 Newbridge Road.

Mary Dhonau, OBE, Chief Executive Officer of the National Flood Forum, has stated that inadequate surface water drainage arrangements for the new development will threaten the park and ride itself and increase the risk of flooding to others. In addition, Ms Dhonau feels that this proposal is sadly lacking in this regard with the expected run off being greater than the volume and peak flow rates prior to the proposed development.

It is quite clear that even if flooding of this site was the only consideration, the construction of this car park should not proceed.