Representation by North Somerset Levels Internal Drainage Board (North Somerset Levels Internal Drainage Board)
- Date submitted
- 24 January 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
The North Somerset Levels Internal Drainage Board is a flood risk management authority, and under the Land Drainage Act 1991 has a duty to “exercise a general supervision over all matters relating to the drainage of land within their district”. To assist with carrying out this duty, a set of byelaws have been made. These byelaws are to secure the efficient working of the drainage system, regulating the effects on the environment of a drainage system and securing the effectiveness of flood risk management work. The applicant is seeking to dis-apply seven of the Board’s byelaws. The byelaws that are proposed to be dis-applied are: Byelaw 3 (control of introduction of water and increases in flow or volume of water); Byelaw 7 (detrimental substances not to be put in watercourses); Byelaw 10 (no obstructions within 9 metres of the Edge of the Watercourse); Byelaw 14 (vehicles not to be driven on banks); Byelaw 15 (banks not to be used for storage); Byelaw 17 (fences, excavations, pipes, etc.); Byelaw 24 (damage to property of the Board). Three of these byelaws are ‘’without prior consent” byelaws and four are to prevent damage to watercourses and the aquatic environment. The byelaws are not intended to restrict the authorised development in any way but to ensure that reasonable oversight and regulation is in place to ensure that the land drainage network is not adversely affected by the proposals. The Board would have no objection to these byelaws being dis-applied if there was sufficient information within the application to provide comfort that the Board’s interests have been fully taken into account in the formulation of the proposals. Unfortunately, the drawings that accompany the application do not have sufficient detail for this to be determined. Therefore, the Board does not agree with the dis-application of the byelaws for this Development Consent Order. The Board will make further written representation regarding the proposals during the examination.