Wotton Brook, Lympstone - Flood Defence Scheme Improvements Exempt from Environmental Statement

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

Lympstone Wotton Brook Flood Defence Scheme (FDS) Improvements

The Environment Agency gives notice that it proposes to carry out improvement works to the flood defences on the Wotton Brook in Lympstone in the gardens of Hope Cottage, Fuchsia Cottage and Ellenthorpe (SX 99077 84116) by extending the existing flood wall by 39m into high ground. The proposed improvement works will involve constructing a 5m re-enforced concrete section of wall along the river’s edge with a mass concrete foundation, a 27m section of re-enforced concrete stepoc block wall with a mini-pile foundation and a 7m section of random rubble limestone wall. The scheme involves the removal of up to 10 trees within the gardens which will be replaced in the gardens and the surrounding area. A sandbag cofferdam will be used to keep the bank dry whilst the 5m section is constructed. The riverbank will be re-profiled against the new flood wall following the completion of that section.

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. As per Schedule 2, due to the works being small scale and the nature of the works not involving any harmful processes, the works are deemed as not causing significant environmental effect. The works are thus not in the territory of requiring an EIA.

Environmental Risks will be managed through appropriate documentation and an Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) and Environment Action Plan (EAP) on-site.

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.

Christopher Wilmoth, Environment Agency, Kestrel Way, Sowton Industrial Estate, Exeter EX2 7LQ.