Eastern Yar draft flood and erosion risk management strategy

Flooding is a real risk facing people and their properties within the Eastern Yar Catchment between Alverstone and Bembridge Harbour.

The strategy was approved by the Environment Agency on 22nd December 2010.

Summary

The Environment Agency, in partnership with the Isle of Wight Council, has produced a strategy setting out how current and future flood and erosion risks will be managed in the Eastern Yar Catchment between Alverstone and Bembridge Harbour. If sea level rises as predicted, we estimate that if we do nothing, within 100 years more than 730 properties in low-lying areas will be at risk of flooding from an event with a 1-in-200 chance of happening in any year.

Under our strategy, the vast majority of properties in the area will have an overall reduction in risk, with defences at Embankment Road being improved to cope with predicted sea level rise. The Duver seawall will be maintained by the Isle of Wight Council and we recommend that the harbour walls at St Helens are maintained by riparian owners.

No work is needed to maintain the groyne at Bembridge Point and fluvial flood risk associated with the Eastern Yar may increase over time due to the predicted impacts of climate change.

The strategy also recognises that securing Government funding for building and maintaining defences cannot be guaranteed. Despite large increases in funding, spending has to be prioritised nationally to ensure the maximum benefit for the money spent.

Public consultation

We held a public consultation between the 30 November 2009 and 5 March 2010. We received a huge response and close to 500 people visited our public exhibitions. We were able to answer many questions, hear concerns and talk to local residents about our recommendations in detail.

We have written a Consultation Summary Report which you can download below.

Reports and documents

The following documents are available to explain more about the strategy:

• Final Eastern Yar Flood and Erosion Management Strategy (PDF, 1.5MB)
• Consultation Summary Report (PDF, 159KB)
• Statement of Environmental Particulars (PDF, 53KB)
• Post–adoption Statement (PDF, 17KB)
• Strategic Environmental Assessment (PDF, 1MB)
• Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 48KB)
• Local Options Report (PDF, 2MB)

The Business Case (Strategy Approval Report) is available upon request.

Contact us

For more information or to request a copy of any of these documents, please call us on 08708 506 506 (Mon-Fri 8.00-18.00), or email us:

• Enquiries