VIRIDOR - FLUVIAL DRAINAGE PROBLEM ( Rough Notes )
A land drainage problem across the site was identified in December 2016 during the last of the River Thames Scheme ( RTS ) Design Workshop Meetings. The problem was visible from satellite images during the 2014 floods.
After the meeting we were unable to contact Emma Booth , the RTS design manager to discover what her proposals were for re-profiling the banks of the Viridor Site in the section between Green Lane and Norlands Lane.
After visiting the site ourselves in early 2017 we discovered that the southern end of the site appeared to be dammed off by a large sump hole that was about 35 metres in diameter. This turned out to be a Surface Water Drainage Lagoon that was supposed to capture surface water from the raised landfill mounds to the north of the site.
We queried the problem with the EA's project manager for the RTS Scheme and were not happy with his answer.
After writing to the CEO of Viridor we held an on- site meeting with Viridor's site manager who agreed that there was a problem and that he would clear it. This would have been carried out free of charge.
After three years , SCC's head planner admitted that the Lagoon and banking had been built without planning permission or flood defence consent. Historical satellite images show it was built in 2003.
When the local flood group brought the subject up , it was dismissed at the group meeting
After months of arguing, the CEO of SCC raised a formal complaint on our behalf that was investigated internally - not by a independent group. Link to Surrey County Council's response
Bullet Points
In July 2014 , the EA claimed that no drainage problems were discovered when their team inspected the area. They were unable to provide any evidence to support their statement
SCC , who are the Local Lead Flooding Authority ( LLFA ) were not aware of any drainage problems in the Norlands Lane are until over a year after the 2014 floods. This was when they discovered that they were responsible for maintaining the large culvert running under Norlands Lane.
The Surface water Lagoon was responsible for holding back floodwater in the 2003 , 2007 and 2014 flood events . This was because the Lagoon and surrounding bunds dammed off what had been a 900 metre wide floodplain.
SCC never held a site meeting with Viridor or anyone from the flood group
SCC had never visited the site themselves until they were confronted . They claim they did visit it later but could not provide any evidence to support their claim.
SCC have declared that they have no intention of taking any action to rectify the problem as it is out of its 5 year stewardship period.
We are very disappointed with SCC's behavior , competence and the response from their own complaints team. We will be seeking redress
Questions
a. One man and a digger could solve the land drainage problem across the Viridor Landfill Site in about 2 days at a cost of roughly £2,000.
b. Why are SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL prepared to risk further flood damage to properties , infrastructure and the environment in the Egham Hythe and Thorpe Wards that will cost millions of pounds to repair for the sake of spending a few thousand pounds to correct one of their drop offs ? They failed to identify a simple land drainage problem following three different flood events yet they show no signs of embarrassment.
c. How did Surrey County Council manage to talk the Landfill Company ( Viridor ) out of curing their land drainage problem that would have been carried out free of charge ?