In light of the
devastating flooding in the UK in recent weeks, Thanet Green Party Co-ordinator,
and candidate in the forthcoming Newington by-election, Ian Driver has written
to TDC Leader Chris Wells, building company Cardy and South Thanet MP Craig
MacKinlay, urging that a full,
independent Flood Risk Assessment of the Ramsgate Pleasurama development site should
be conducted before the construction of 107 flats and 60 bedroom hotel begins
next spring.
He said, “The
Pleasurama site is located in a designated high risk flood zone, but because of
various technicalities and omissions the original developers, SFP Ventures, did
not include a flood risk assessment as part of their 2003 planning application.”
The Environment
Agency wrote to TDC in February 2008, after planning permission had already been
granted (1), expressing concerns about the design of the proposed Pleasurama flats
which could, in the event of a flood, “leave residents stranded in their homes
without a safe means of escape”. It concluded that it was “difficult to
determine whether the development can be considered safe”. The Environment
Agency “highly recommended that a full Flood Risk Assessment is undertaken
which could inform appropriate resilience and resistance measures”. However, TDC and SFP Ventures did not follow this
advice, and no such assessment has ever been carried out on the Pleasurama site
and development plans.
Said Driver, “I
am extremely concerned that, despite the Environment Agency’s strong advice to conduct
a full Flood Risk Assessment on the Pleasurama site, this has not happened. I
raised this matter with senior council managers and politicians on at least 3
occasions between 2012 and 2014, but each time my request was rejected (2)”.
“Bearing in mind
the rapidly increasing number of extreme weather and flooding incidents in the
UK during recent years and the terrible events in Scotland, Cumbria, Yorkshire
and Lancashire over the past 2 weeks, I want to urge TDC once again to ensure
that the site and its future residents are properly safeguarded against
potential flooding through a full risk assessment and action on any safety
recommendations it may propose.”
“This is a
moral issue for TDC, as it directly affects the personal safety of Thanet residents.
It is also a practical and financial one: if the development is completed and
there is a flooding incident, residents and businesses living and operating on
the site would almost certainly be able to claim huge compensation settlements
from TDC for its failure to take reasonable steps to ensure the health and well
being of residents and other site users”.
He added:
“Cardy, which is taking over the development of the site from SFP Ventures, has
a well-deserved reputation as a responsible building firm. I’m sure they will
want to protect their reputation and the safety of residents by being fully
aware of any likely risks. Mortgage and
insurance companies will review their policies after the recent flooding and will be wary of providing
loans and cover for developments on flood risk zones, especially if a full
Flood Risk Assessment cannot be produced, which could direct affect sales of
Pleasurama flats”.
Driver’s call
for a Flood Risk Assessment of the Pleasurama site is supported by Lord Krebs
the Chairman of the powerful House of Commons Climate Change Adaptation Committee
which published a major report on flooding in March 2015. In a recent letter to
the Times Lord Krebs said that “local councils, developers and landowners must share responsibility … over
where to build new homes, how they are designed and how water is managed”. He
also suggested that the forthcoming Government
review of flooding policy should seek to hold to account those councils, landowners, and developers who through
bad decision making or negligence “contribute
towards the scale of flood damage (3)”
 |
| Labour's Iris Jonhnston struck a deal with Cardy over Pleasurama but with no Flood Risk Assessment required. Shameful negligence which could put people at risk! |
Thanet Green
Party does not wish to see the Pleasurama site remain derelict for any longer,
but feels that the safety of residents should be paramount. Thanet Greens are
happy to support development on the site that it is sustainable, safe and
independently risk assessed. If an assessment determines that it is not safe to
build residential property on the site, however, it would urge TDC to resume possession
of the site and consult with the people of Ramsgate about its future development
as a safe leisure and tourism facility integrated into a wider investment and
regeneration programme for Ramsgate’s seafront. “The Green Party has high hopes
for Ramsgate’s seafront which could easily become the driving force which kick-starts
the town economy, but it must be a safe, properly protected seafront which
people and businesses are able to use and enjoy all year round” said Driver.
Ends
promoted and published by Ian Driver 45 Sea View Rd CT101BX on behalf of Ian Driver and Andrew Jefferson Green Party candidates in the Newington by-election.
- See attached letter to TDC from Environment Agency
- Ian Driver raised the issue with former Chief
Executive Sue McGonigal in 2012, who refused to approve a Flood Risk
Assessment on the grounds of cost. He raised this matter again in 2013
when he was a member of TDC’s Pleasurama Working Group but Labour
councillors, supported by senior TDC officers, voted down his proposal. In
2014 he asked that conducting a FRA of the Pleasurama site
and development plans should be included in negotiations between TDC and
Cardy, which was then in the
process of taking over the site
from SFP Ventures. TDC’s Labour Cabinet refused his request”.
- Lord Krebs Letters Page The Times 1 January 2016.
Thanet Green Party branch
officers will be meeting the owners of the former Manston Airport on Friday 22
January to discuss plans for the development of the site. 
