As I write this column, I am pondering the recent events across Hastings and Rye; households in Marsham Brook Lane, Pett Level, and businesses and households in the Priory Meadow area in Hastings were swamped by devastating floods. This was followed by a fire in a building in George Street, and another fire in Claremont School, on the A21. A cliff fall in Caves Road led to the discovery of a suspected unexploded World War II bomb. In Rye, flood warnings were given along Winchelsea New Road and homes on The Strand – properties next to the River Brede. The amount of rainfall in the preceding week had been phenomenal and local businesses and residents are still dealing with the aftermath.
I was interested to learn more about Priory Meadow and was a little perturbed to read that before the land was levelled and drained in 1864, and made into a cricket ground (Central Recreation Ground) used for first-class and List A cricket, it was marshland. Furthermore, it was underwater before the 13th century, and was the original harbour for Hastings. Interestingly, whilst Hastings Borough Council voted to relocate the Central Recreation Ground to redevelop the land for the shopping centre, the proposal was rejected by the then Government. Planning permission for the shopping centre was eventually granted in 1988, and it was opened in 1997 by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth – a proud moment for Hastings and St Leonard’s.
Needless to say, it is vital that, not only must this area of land where the shopping centre is built be properly drained, but that the drainage systems are fit for the future, especially in light of the climate changes we have witnessed over the past few years. The rainfall pattern we are seeing in recent years is definitely heavier, with more rain falling over a shorter period. On 16th January, the Environment Agency’s rain gauges recorded between 36-44mm of rain in 6 hours. This is is about 50% of the average rainfall for Hastings for the whole month of January.
I have been to visit residents and businesses, the victims of the recent floods, to try and find out how they have been supported by the various agencies (a special mention for East Sussex Fire and Rescue who were fantastic) and to try and ascertain how the flooding happened. Many believed Southern Water is to blame. I have called for East Sussex County Council, as the Lead Local Flood Authority to undertake an investigation as to the cause of the flooding and am pleased that ESCC has confirmed that this investigation will indeed be conducted. Once it has been determined who is responsible the necessary action needs to be taken to rectify the current problem and to make sure that this does not happen again.