A planners perspective Martin Eaglestone MRTPI Planning Policy Manager St Asaph

Transcription

1 SUDS A planners perspective Martin Eaglestone MRTPI Planning Policy Manager St Asaph

2 Not speaking for my employer

3 Anglesey Issues But I will reflect on some experiences from Anglesey, and work taking place at present to address issues of relevance and interest to a SUDS event I hope!.

4 St Asaph How did you travel here?

5 Train anybody?

6 Come by car?

7 Walk on public footpath?

8 Coastal route no easier!

9 In truth even getting started was a problem!!

10 Purpose of talk Not really a SUDS talk. But coming at the issue from the perspective of the sustainable regeneration of a town. Hopefully offer some relevant insights. Offer some thoughts on gap between policy and practise / theory and practise. Partnership work as way forward. Action not studies!

11 Ynys Mon Isle of Anglesey Island with 125 miles of coastline. 2 bridge connections. Lots of designated sites. 3 principal towns. Lots of rural settlements. 69,000 people. Fragile economy big change threatened. A55, Celtic Gateway and links to Ireland. Infrastructure weaknesses.

12 Ynys Mon - Anglesey

13 Enjoy

14 Llangefni. Quick case study.

15 Llangefni Principal market town, near the A55. Part of the primary Menai hub of the Wales Spatial Plan. Main administrative centre for Anglesey. 5,000 population. Focus for economic, commercial and retail activity along with social/education/cultural facilities.

16 Principal features Industrial estates. Council headquarters. Leisure centre and municipal golf course. Education - Coleg Menai, Secondary school, Integrated children s centre etc. Retail, including weekly market. Oriel Mon Kyffin Williams. Dingle Local Nature reserve Afon Cefni Communities First presence.

17 OS license IACC Llangefni

18 So.. Go for it?

19 Yes.. But (putting to one side human dynamics) Need to address capacity of infrastructure around the town. Combined foul and surface water systems. Insufficient natural responses. Highways not the focus today.

20 Constraints Environmental constraints SAC downstream of town, Infrastructure constraints, High industrial effluents : food processing and cheese production - with some mitigation work and some flows ceased, But overall still needing sustainable solutions. Because

21 Rain clouds rain drops

22 AFON CEFNI

23 Too many rain drops.. problems. PUBLIC SEWER LLANGEFNI INDUSTRIAL ESTATE

24 Planning response? Ynys Mon UDP specifically identified Infrastructure as a key issue needing attention. Policy on Surface Water Run Off (SG6) Consideration should be given to the use of softer engineering structures collectively referred to as SUDS. SUDS is a concept that focuses decisions about drainage design, construction and maintenance on the quality of the receiving environment and people. The Council will require the developer to demonstrate both financially and practically how the long term maintenance of any attenuation, facilities or mitigation measures will be achieved including the maintenance of swales, ponds or similar features. But policy statement not enough.

25 Arena network study Focussed on discharges in the catchment and control for environmental reasons.

26 2004 Llangefni and Mona Waste Minimisation Project Combined flows from Llangefni and smaller villages that lie up to 10km from the Llangefni WWTW. Considered the authorising consent from the EA and sensitive habitat in the Anglesey Coast marsh SAC in to which the Afon Cefni flows.

27 2004 Water and Waste Study Report Report by Babtie/Dwr Cymru for the Council on limitations in the water and wastewater infrastructure owned and operated by Dwr Cymru in key areas, including Llangefni. Drinking water okay supply work in progress. But future employment needs to be light/dry industry or domestic dwellings. Controls on discharge to Afon Cefni (EA).

28 So Growth and change required BUT Internal constraints in town, External constraints in wider area.

29 2007/08 Gathering evidence base for LDP and issue still relevant. Lacking more proactive response to issues. Council and partners promoting regeneration work as the town is in the hub. A Master plan area identified for regeneration in the pre deposit Local Development Plan. Reflects consultants work going back some 3 years. What can be done?

30 2008 Study Work commissioned by Council and Assembly Government. Accounting for interests of all stakeholders EA Wales, Dwr Cymru and other affected organisations. Focus on a 23 hectare master plan area - but in the context of the whole town. SUDS providing potential solution to issues.

31 MASTER PLAN AREA - ISSUES Some 50% of the site area is impermeable (roofs, roads, parking areas and hard standings). So some 11.5 hectares of surface connecting to surface water, foul and combined drainage systems in the site. This is easily evidenced as giving significant problems in recent weather events.

32 Lots of hard surfaces like this..

33 SOLUTIONS REQUIRED Atkins consultants now working for stakeholders on a Surface Water Drainage Design with drafting of an Optioneering Statement. (Just wanted to say that word!)

34 3 phase study Drainage constraints report and flood consequence and pollution risk assessment. (evidence gathering). Surface water optioneering assessment. Outline scheme design of selected option. Steps 2 and 3 currently in draft report. Project Prioritisation Register seeks to account for views of the different stakeholders and matching aspirations with realism. Not all aspirations match!

35 Priority Process Separate surface and foul water Reduce flows entering sewers Reduce load to WWTW Regeneration Phasing Costing Adoption Exemplar site/project

36 Options Conventional Show case - exemplar site. Catchment approach.

37 Conventional approach Conventional approach under current legislative framework. Use of drainage. Separate traditional drainage as site re-developed. Some new attenuation storage.

38 Showcase approach for exemplar site. Consider the site only not wider context. Develop options beyond current legislative barriers. Source measures. Attenuation ponds as public spaces. SUDS tools such as treatment trains. Green corridors. Maximum use of existing ditches.

39 Integrated water management for the wider catchment. Maximise water management potential of the wider catchment and drainage solutions that benefit the wider community. By pass foul drains. Separate sewers on site. Waste minimisation methods including water efficiency measures. Options within this.

40 Partners preferred approach Option 3 integrated approach is most advantageous and a best value approach. Looking to embrace SUDS approach. However still requires more data on existing sewers so more work required. Therefore, cost the site option now with catchment approach to follow.

41 Surface Water Infrastructure - Site Design ideas for upfront infrastructure. Flows to ponds. Flows to open ditches. Potential Porous pavement areas. Plots and buildings to follow. Concepts stage more work required. Integration with catchment.

42 Hey presto..(draft)

43 However Limit on surface water flow (EA) to Afon Cefni. at this stage DCWW will not adopt any of the above systems or drainage systems which receive flow from them.

44 Synergy of Strategies Wider catchment approach suggested by the master plan study ties in with draft Flood Catchment Management Plan (FCMP) of the EA. Consultation Draft at present. EA advise only small increases in flood risk due to climate change but more people will be affected by increased surface water and sewer flooding. Wetter winters and more severe storm events.

45 Positive way forward Partnership approach. Evidence based. Optioneered. Lever in finance.

46 If mischievous.. Does the regulatory provider divide help deliver practical solutions, rather than identify acknowledged problems. What does a hub mean if not the delivery of such regeneration quickly! Lack of money regulators or priorities of partners? How many studies are required? Does the development plan lead or follow? If SUDS is part of the solution then make it easy e.g. adoption issues etc. Stop passing the buck.

47 Too much advice and guidance? Overflowing with advice from each other? WLGA publication : Shaping the way we work, live and play which recommended- Avoid siting where negative impact on hydrological processes, Minimise water demand, Rainwater collection, Require the use of SUDS, Double the benefit of SUDS by landscape/biodiversity, Encourage grey water recycling. One of many, many sources of advice.

48 Time for practical action Not endless studies?

49 SUDS.. How we deal with water Add a coastal storm

50 Some surface water problems

51 Treaddur Bay

52 Water runs somewhere

53 Could be your village hall

54 Could be your home

55 Beaumaris heading for sea!

56 Water will find a route

57 Gather in dips

58 Misery and cost.

59 Even at council headquarters!

60 Problem getting closer

61 October Time for video?