Cove Road - Announcement of Intention Not to Prepare

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
ANNOUNCEMENT OF INTENTION NOT TO PREPARE
AN ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Regulation 5 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Land Drainage Improvement Works (Amended) Regulations 1999 SI 1999/1783
Cove Brook Reservoir FAS Farnborough Resilience
MIOS (Measures in the Interest of Safety) Project
The Environment Agency gives notice that it proposes to carry out improvement works to the flood defences on Cove Brook Flood Storage Area (FSA) reservoir. It can be accessed from Hazel Avenue, Cove, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 0EF (NGR SU 85550 55420) and Cove Road, Farnborough, GU14 0HQ, (NGR SU 85676 55709). The reservoir is approximately 2.25m high and 910m long, of which around 20% is through private gardens. The proposed improvement works will involve the following:
As the Undertaker for the Cove Brook FSA Statutory reservoir, the Environment Agency is responsible for the safety of the reservoir and compliance with the Reservoirs Act 1975 (the Act) at all times. The Act and 2019 Section 10 Inspection Report dated May 2019, requires us to complete improvement works by September 2024 which would allow the Cove Brook reservoir to meet the higher standard of requirements for a large Category A Reservoir.
The work involves widening the faces of the embankment, filling small low spots, and installing small, embedded kerbs to define and protect the crest. Improved overflow protection will also be part of the works. A 20m extension to the earth bund spillway at the northern end is needed to improve discharge. Permeable footpaths along the crest will be extended and improved. The scheme will result in the removal of approximately 138 trees. The trees will be removed in advance of the main works through the Environment Agency statutory Undertaker powers.
Post construction, mitigation will be completed with a package of work to be agreed for Rushmoor Borough Council to carry out in the future, including relevant tree planting, grass establishment and brook improvements, working alongside their recommendations. We are also contributing financially to the Cove Brook Channel Improvement project, a biodiversity partnership project with Rushmoor Borough Council.
The Environment Agency considers that the improvement works are not likely to have significant effects on the environment and does not intend to prepare an environmental statement in respect of them. A non-statutory Environmental Report can be obtained from King’s Meadow House, King’s Meadow Road, Reading, RG18DQ.
The works can be considered to fall within Schedule 2, Part 13 Class D (a) and (b) of the of the Town & Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015. Works proposed are works by the Environment Agency under Part 13 of the GPDO, the Land Drainage Act, and the Water Resources Act.
Any person wishing to make representations in relation to the likely environmental effects of the proposed improvement works should do so, in writing, to the address specified below, within 30 days of the date of publication of this notice.
For and on behalf of the Environment Agency
Tony Kirstein, Project Manager, King’s Meadow House, King’s Meadow Road, Reading, RG1 8DQ