[News] Anyone remember the flooding in Chichester over the a27?

Publius Ovidius · Feb 26, 2020

It was a few years ago now and caused mayhem on the A27 and all the area around it. By the lake opposite the retail park!

Drove down to see Laura ( BAG) last weekend in Salisbury and couldn’t believe they have put up a huge housing estate exactly where the lake flooded to to the south of the A27.

Couple of points...surely any surveyor / solicitor worth his/her salt would find out that area has flooded and if so how will anyone get a mortgage on these properties, and also how would anyone sell the properties if it floods again.

I know we have to build houses, but this is a known flood area.

Weststander · Feb 26, 2020

Jan 94 we were driving back from Bath, the country route and then M27/A27. The A27 was completely closed at Chichester, the detour was south.

dazzer6666 · Feb 26, 2020

I remember the news reports at the time......good recap here on youtube

https://youtu.be/uCsYttZP15Q

https://youtu.be/XeD_2bvs2tU

Biscuit Barrel · Feb 26, 2020

After the floods they improved the flood defence system around the city.

Westbourne House lake is used to take the excess water when the river bursts its banks and stops the water from flooding the surrounding area.

I maybe wrong, but I can't remember the last time it flooded.

Blue3 · Feb 27, 2020

Not going very well for Italy this week as we have to blame the Romans for building Chichester on a flood plain in the first place

studio150 · Feb 27, 2020

Far too many homes being built on flood plains but just as normal homes without taking into account the probable flooding.
At least in York which floods frequently it would seem that commercial premises are being adapted so that parking is ground floor so that flooding doesn't destroy the offices and work areas. This type of design should be built into homes where they are building on known flood areas.

Dick Head · Feb 27, 2020

Chichester in 2030.

All those cars are at a meet-up for vintage car enthusiasts.

dazzer6666 · Feb 27, 2020

Dick Head said:
Chichester in 2030.

All those cars are at a meet-up for vintage car enthusiasts.

Think you’ll find it’s more like this

Norman Potting · Feb 27, 2020

Bold Seagull · Feb 27, 2020

All this building on flood plains...
1. The EA produce flood maps with flood zones indicating severity of potential flooding from 200 year events.
2. If any planning application is within a flood zone it has to be submitted with a Flood Risk Assessment (FRA).
3. The FRA will take data from a worse case 200yr event, adding allowance for global warming, that you then add say 600mm to to establish your habitable flood level.

This has been happening for at least 15-20years. I’m not sure how many newer developments have been flooding or not?

abc · Feb 27, 2020

Publius Ovidius said:
It was a few years ago now and caused mayhem on the A27 and all the area around it. By the lake opposite the retail park!

Drove down to see Laura ( BAG) last weekend in Salisbury and couldn’t believe they have put up a huge housing estate exactly where the lake flooded to to the south of the A27.

Couple of points...surely any surveyor / solicitor worth his/her salt would find out that area has flooded and if so how will anyone get a mortgage on these properties, and also how would anyone sell the properties if it floods again.

I know we have to build houses, but this is a known flood area.

I remember it well as I was involved in the relief work. The river Lavant was deliberately diverted to flood other areas in order to protect Chichester, the problem being that the river goes under the city through roman culverts. A flood diversion scheme now takes excess river water around the city and down to Pagham harbour.

So in fairness, none of the new housing is being built on a flood plain or at risk. But calling the big scheme ‘Shopwhyke LAKES’ is rather ironic!

Saladpack Seagull · Feb 27, 2020

At the time I was working nights in Chi and the lasting memory for me is the size of the rats running around the delivery yard having been flooded out of the culverts. The first one I saw was as big as an eight or nine week old kitten.

Bold Seagull · Feb 27, 2020

Saladpack Seagull said:
At the time I was working nights in Chi and the lasting memory for me is the size of the rats running around the delivery yard having been flooded out of the culverts. The first one I saw was as big as an eight or nine week old kitten.

Sounds like a good time to be reading a James Herbert novel...

Stat Brother · Feb 27, 2020

Bold Seagull said:
All this building on flood plains...
1. The EA produce flood maps with flood zones indicating severity of potential flooding from 200 year events.
2. If any planning application is within a flood zone it has to be submitted with a Flood Risk Assessment (FRA).
3. The FRA will take data from a worse case 200yr event, adding allowance for global warming, that you then add say 600mm to to establish your habitable flood level.

This has been happening for at least 15-20years. I’m not sure how many newer developments have been flooding or not?

This.

Shirley the point is you have to remember the floods of 20 years ago, not 20 hours!!

As for the 1 massive estate
The OP should be grateful they didn't drive along the A259, instead.

He'd be amazed to see 5 (five) massive estates in the 6 mile stretch from Angering to Bognor.

Timbo · Feb 27, 2020

Bold Seagull said:
All this building on flood plains...
1. The EA produce flood maps with flood zones indicating severity of potential flooding from 200 year events.
2. If any planning application is within a flood zone it has to be submitted with a Flood Risk Assessment (FRA).
3. The FRA will take data from a worse case 200yr event, adding allowance for global warming, that you then add say 600mm to to establish your habitable flood level.

This has been happening for at least 15-20years. I’m not sure how many newer developments have been flooding or not?

The issue is groundwater. New floods will appear a few miles away where it backs up as the groundwater can no longer move just below the surface as it does before you put up a new development.

carlzeiss · Feb 27, 2020

Can recall the Argus having a photo of a windsurfer on the A27 between Arundel and Chichester the last time the area flooded .

BLOCK F · Feb 27, 2020

abc said:
I remember it well as I was involved in the relief work. The river Lavant was deliberately diverted to flood other areas in order to protect Chichester, the problem being that the river goes under the city through roman culverts. A flood diversion scheme now takes excess river water around the city and down to Pagham harbour.

So in fairness, none of the new housing is being built on a flood plain or at risk. But calling the big scheme ‘Shopwhyke LAKES’ is rather ironic!

Back in 1994 it was, and I also remember it well.
We've had no problems since, so a job well done, abc! :thumbsup:

kevsbha · Feb 27, 2020

Remember driving over the bridge the army put up between bognor and Chichester at Oving took about 45 minutes for a 10 min journey back then. Now at rush hour it's like an hour to do the 7 miles

amexer · Feb 27, 2020

Not sure what year but can remember A27 just past Alfriston was flooded

The Man from Del Monte · Feb 27, 2020

Norman Potting said:
No.

Yes.

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[News] Anyone remember the flooding in Chichester over the a27?

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