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

Overview

The Environment Agency want to strengthen local decision making by enabling internal drainage boards (IDBs), lead local flood authorities (LLFAs) and district councils to take responsibility for their local flood risk where they want to, and where appropriate.

We are proposing to transfer the management of flood risk on some rivers to other risk management authorities (RMAs). Consultation on these proposals is now taking place in Suffolk for the following watercourses:

• The Bologney River, near Iken, Suffolk The Environment Agency is proposing to transfer responsibilities to East Suffolk Internal Drainage Board, Suffolk County Council (LLFA) and Suffolk Coastal District Council.
   
• Cookley Watercourse, near Cookley, Suffolk  The Environment Agency is proposing to transfer responsibilities to East Suffolk Internal Drainage Board, Suffolk County Council (LLFA) and Suffolk Coastal District Council.
   
• The River Wang, near Wangford, Suffolk and its tributaries: Uggeshall Watercourse and the River Trent The Environment Agency is proposing to transfer responsibilities to East Suffolk Internal Drainage Board, Suffolk County Council (LLFA) and Waveney District Council.

This transfer would result in these stretches of river being removed from the statutory main river map. They would be re-designated as ordinary watercourses, with flood risk management activities passing to the relevant IDBs or LLFAs/district councils. You can view an interactive map of the proposed changes by clicking here.

The maintenance responsibilities of riverside (riparian) landowners would not change. The permissive powers to undertake maintenance on the watercourses would be transferred to the internal drainage board or district council. They will only use these powers where they deem it necessary to supplement the maintenance required of riparian landowners and have the funding to do so.

The Environment Agency undertakes maintenance under permissive powers. We prioritise maintenance activities based on flood risk to people and property, and focus management at locations with high flood risk. This means that some main river watercourses, deemed at low risk of flooding, can suffer from intermittent funding.

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 doesn’t take place.

You can also download the Suffolk consultation document by clicking here.

The Environment Agency publically consulted on the proposal to de-main the Bologney River between 15^th July and 15^th August 2015. Further information is available here.  

On the 24^th October 2017 we held a public drop-in session at Halesworth Methodist Church to discuss our proposals for Cookley Watercourse and the River Wang (and its tributaries the River Trent and Uggeshall Watercourse). We have also met with and consulted 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 “proposal for designation change” 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 ‘Decision for Designation Change’ 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.