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This from Michael Lilley, Councillor for Ryde Appley and Elmfield. Ed
On 25th October 2023, the Isle of Wight had the highest level of rain since records were kept. The result was the worst flooding that Ryde experienced.
The Environment Agency admitted in a subsequent meeting with residents that the £5m Ryde flood protection scheme was not designed to cope with the level of rain and high tide levels seen on that fateful night. The Environment Agency spokesperson on the night stated it was a result of climate change.
The hardest hit by the flooding
My ward of Ryde Appley and Elmfield along with Ryde Monktonmead were the hardest hit by the flooding, but my ward is also home to the Ryde area sewage pumping station under Appley Park.
The reality of torrential rain on a town built on a hill is that it overwhelms the single surface water and sewage pipes that result in Southern Water releasing the sewage overflows into the Solent.
Surface water and sewage flooded peoples’ homes
On the night of 25th October surface water and sewage was mixed and floated into peoples’ homes.
The sewage overflow releases continued from 25th October to 13th November into an area of a protected and environmentally important beach.
Largest greenfield area designated for development
The ward is also home to the largest green field area designated by Isle of Wight Council for development of over 1500 houses in Ryde. 900 houses on a site called Pennyfeathers have thankfully been indefinitely stalled due the outline planning permissions now being out-of-date.
The 472 houses with planning approval on Westridge Farm site are being challenged bravely by residents who care passionately about the environment through seeking Judicial Review.
Moratorium of certain large scale developments
The recent flooding and sewage destruction of our environment and people’s lives cannot continue and I have asked IW Council for a moratorium of all large scale developments that are half a mile from the coastline and are building on green fields.
This includes Ryde and Bembridge. We as a community need to rethink the consequences on building on natural water retention barriers such as greenspaces close to coast line.
A warning sign
The flooding in Ryde and across the Island is a real warning sign. We as residents need to stand up to IW Council, landowners and developers and say no to this huge environmental risk.
It is utter madness in Ryde to build houses on top of a hill that will increase surface water and sewage flowing down the hill so close to the sea and which will make floods an annual event as climate change brings extreme weather.
We need to preserve natural green spaces for nature, the environment and flood protection.
