Fears over housing development in Debenham after floods

Mid Suffolk District Council is working with Suffolk County Council to ensure local housing developers in Debenham are complying with the "necessary planning conditions around water management”. 

It comes after a report released by the county council, the lead local flood authority, into extreme flooding in the mid Suffolk village during Storm Babet. 

A number of recommendations to prevent flooding have been made (Image: Jo Beverley)

A number of recommendations to prevent further flooding in the village were made in the report. 

Two of these fall into the capacity of Mid Suffolk District Council as the local planning authority. 

Other recommendations maintenance on watercourses, Suffolk Highways to investigate possible blockages and levels of vegetation in the area. 

Addressing issues in Water Lane and Priory Lane, it said investigations will be completed for possible natural flood management features.

It also adds warning signs could be added in some areas.

Suggesting actions in response to the flooding, the report reads: "Check proposed water management strategies put in place as part of recent building developments on Little London Hill and Aspall Road are working effectively and not increasing flood risk in the area."

A spokeswoman for Mid Suffolk District Council said: "We will continue to work alongside partner agencies including the Environment Agency and Suffolk County Council as the lead local flood authority to help our communities mitigate flood risk and avoid a repeat of the devastation caused by Storm Babet.

“We are now working with LLFA colleagues to support the two recommendations from this report that fall to us as the local planning authority – specifically ensuring that new developments in the village have complied with all necessary planning conditions around water management.” 

More than 70 properties were damaged during the flooding, with some people not back in their homes (Image: Jo Beverley)

Jo Beverley, who lives in the village and helps a number of elderly residents, said some people were still not back in their homes. 

She said: "A lot of people are still not in their houses. 

"I moved into the village about eight years ago and we have never seen flooding quite so bad as it before."

Mrs Beverley said her home did experience some flooding, mainly caused by bow waves. 

However, she was unable to reach many of the elderly residents she cares for due to the extreme flooding. 

Teresa Davis, Mid Suffolk District Councillor for Debenham (Image: Mid Suffolk District Council)

"Nobody could get into the village and nobody could get out," Mrs Beverley added. 

"I could not cross my road to try and find my way to one of my ladies, who didn't have a visit for a hot meal and didn't have her vital medication. This was the same for quite a few other people." 

Jane Baldwin, of Debenham Parish Council, said it would look at what it can do in regards to housing developments. 

She said: "Any investigations or decisions regarding those developments will need to be with the planning authority, but as a parish council we can encourage the planning authority to look at that.

"Once we have digested it, we will be trying to be very proactive and work with the bodies that we need to work with.

"As a community we are looking to be proactive, but I think some of the big recommendations are dependent on external bodies as far as I understand."

The section 19 flood report, commissioned by Suffolk County Council, has been welcomed by Teresa Davis, Mid Suffolk councillor for Debenham. 

She said: "It is excellent to have all organisations working together and I look forward to our Local Flood Lead (Suffolk  County Council) and Anglian Water having a sound infrastructure maintenance programme in place for Debenham moving forward."

The report follows the publishing of an investigation into flooding in Framlingham. 

Patrick Spencer, MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, said: "We are pleased that both the reports on Framlingham and Debenham have been released and they adequately reflect the huge damage caused by extreme rainfall on residents in both towns. 

"We support the conclusions but I'd really like to emphasise the long-term steps that both reports recommend, specifically drastic improvements to drainage infrastructure and natural flood management techniques. 

"That will mean working with landowners, Suffolk County Council and the Environment Agency to prevent these tragic events happening long in to the future."