Town Mayor of Sandown, Cllr Gary Young, has written to the Environment Agency, offering to organise a meeting where affected property owners, councils and other interest groups could meet with the Environment Agency, RSPB, Southern Water and their MP.
Concerns have been raised over the regular flooding of Morton Common, resulting in road closures, as well as difficulties experienced by residents along the Eastern Yar.
Gates closed on several occasions
In his letter, Cllr Young says,
“We are aware that the gates at Bembridge have been shut on several occasions to allow the water to flood the area at Brading Marsh for the wild birds but this has caused problems further up and down the river for the house owners and Morton Common.”
He goes on to say.
“It is felt by our residents that The Environment Agency and the RSPB are knowingly causing flooding to private properties along the length of the river.”
“Destruction of the habitat”
The letter sets out a series of issues, adding that the Sandown Town Council believe the destruction of the habitats at Morton Common has been “enormous since the RSPB also took that over”.
Other items raised were:
- Flora and fauna have disappeared
- Many species of birds and butterflies have gone
- Land has become a sterile dense matt of reeds and rushes
- Loss of grasses and wild flowers including Marsh Orchids
- No husbandry carried out on the Common for some time
- Footpaths mostly impassable due to winter flooding and overgrown reeds
- The flooding of riverbank caused the erosion of some of the gardens, rotted fences and other outdoor items
Update 16.10:
Councillor for Brading, St Helens and Bembridge, Jonathan Bacon told OnTheWight,
“As much of what happens is in my ward I have been pursuing information as to what is happening and in particular the actions and intentions of the Environment Agency and the RSPB.
“I am speaking to the South Downs and Solent Area Flood Manager and have arranged a meeting at County Hall next week to be attended by the Environment Agency, RSPB and relevant Council Officers.
“Brading Town Council have similar concerns and have arranged a public meeting in relation to flooding issues to take place at 7pm on Wednesday 29th January.
“I have long been concerned about flooding in Brading which has been going on for some time and seems to have got worse in the last year and particularly during the adverse weather we have suffered recently. Generally there seems to be a need for the Environment Agency to engage more with local communities and in particular in relation to the Eastern Yar there are concerns about what is being done that need to be addressed and information provided.
“I hope the forthcoming meetings will provide some answers.”
Sandown Town Clerk has agreed to let us know what response they receive from the Environment Agency. She also added that in 40 years of living on the Island, she can’t remember this area flooding in the past.
Read the response from the RSPB and Environment Agency
Image: Howard Lake under CC BY 2.0
