Rationalising the Main River Network (RMRN): Norfolk De-maining Pilot Proposals

Overview

The Environment Agency proposes to remove the following sections of watercourse from the main river map and designate them as ordinary watercourse, a process referred to as de-maining, or de-mainment:

• The River Tud, between Dereham and Costessey, Norfolk - 25.4 km. The Environment Agency is proposing to transfer responsibilities to Norfolk Rivers Internal Drainage Board.

• The Tunstall Dyke, near Acle, Norfolk – 1.4 km. The Environment Agency is proposing to transfer responsibilities to Broads Internal Drainage Board.

• A stretch of the Waxham New Cut, near Sea Palling, Norfolk – 4.4 km. The Environment Agency is proposing to transfer responsibilities to Broads Internal Drainage Board.

We are proposing this to strengthen local flood risk management and because the Environment Agency must prioritise flood risk management activities and resources  at locations with highest risk to people and property. Some main river watercourses that are low flood risk can receive intermittent funding.

The stretches of watercourse proposed have low levels of flood risk to people and property and are not associated with major rivers or major population centres. The Norfolk Rivers and Broads Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) are willing to take on responsibility for these sections of river and they have the appropriate skills and governance arrangements in place to do so.

This consultation sets out all of the information on our proposals. It explains how the proposed sections of watercourse are currently managed and funded and provides details on future management and funding, if de-maining does or does not take place.

We want to get feedback on all issues related to the proposal, which we must consider before deciding whether to proceed.

This is a public consultation and we welcome everyone’s views. This consultation will be of particular interest to anyone who lives or works in the Wensum, Thurne, and Bure catchments.

We will take into account all of the consultation responses received, along with all of the other important considerations, before deciding whether to proceed with the proposal. In each location, if the Environment Agency Board approves de-maining, we will publish our decision in the form of a ‘Decision for Designation Change’ Notice on the GOV.UK website and in local newspapers.

Anyone who is unhappy with the decision can appeal by writing to Defra within six weeks of the publication of the Notice.

The Environment Agency has previously publically consulted on the proposal to de-main the River Tud between 13th July and 16th August 2015. Further information is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/river-tud-costessey-norfolk-proposal-for-designation-change/river-tud-costessey-norfolk-proposal-for-designation-change.

On the 31st October 2017, we held a public drop-in session at Sea Palling and Waxham Village Hall to discuss our proposals for the Tunstall Dyke and the Waxham New Cut. We have also met with and discussed the proposals with Natural England.

Why your views matter

We are consulting to get feedback from all of those individuals, groups and organisations, who are affected by, or interested in, our proposals. We welcome everyone’s views.

We will take into account all of the consultation responses received, along with all of the other important considerations, before deciding whether to proceed with the proposal.

We will publish all of the consultation feedback in a summary document on the GOV.UK website and on Citizen Space within 12 weeks of the end date of the consultation.

If we decide to proceed with de-maining we will publish a 'Designation Change Decision Notice' on GOV.UK and in local newspapers. Anyone can challenge the decision to de-main by email or in writing to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) within 6 weeks of the publication of the Notice.

What happens next

We will take into account all of the consultation responses received, along with all of the other important considerations, before deciding whether to proceed with the proposal.

In each location, if de-maining is approved by the Environment Agency Board, we will publish our decision in the form of a 'Designation Change Decision Notice' on the GOV.UK website and in local newspapers.

Anyone who is unhappy with the decision can raise an objection by email or in writing to Defra within six weeks of the publication of the Notice.