Grant sought to find ways of reducing surface water flooding in Uckfield

Wealden Council is bidding for £80,000 in Government funding to identify ways of reducing surface water flooding in Uckfield.

The money would be used to produce a Surface Water Management Plan for the town which was hit by surface water flooding in 2007.

Surfaces and slopes which lead to excessive run-off into property and infrastructure would be identified as part of the plan.

Ways of controlling surface water run-off from new development and managing the build-up of unwanted surface water in urban and rural locations would also be considered.

District councillor Claire Dowling, cabinet member for corporate services said many Uckfield properties were flooded by surface water run-off in July 2007.

'The undulating terrain of the town has made it vulnerable to the sudden and prolonged heavy rainfall we can increasingly expect as a result of the changing weather patterns in this country,' she said.

If Wealden's bid is successful the council will work alongside East Sussex County Council, the Environment Agency, Southern Water, Uckfield Town Council and the Uckfield Flood Forum to produce the assessment.

(Added to site Monday, January 4th, 2010)