FLOOD DEFENCES: WE'LL GO IT ALONE!

Five years on from the devastating floods that ruined businesses and houses, members are upset they are still being treated as a low priority. Holding back flood water upstream of the town will cost 3.8 million but members, who met on Tuesday to form a plan of action, say this is the only answer.

Representatives from the Environment Agency met members from the Forum to confirm that plans to build a metre high wall around Somerfield car park was the only viable and affordable option.

Forum chairman Claire Dowling said: 'We are going to do everything in our power to get that money.

'It's a huge task but we won't get anywhere if we don't try. We are going to start some strong lobbying and find funding from whoever we can '“ and get as many people on board as possible. We are even going to explore options in Europe.

'There were no shocks or surprises on Tuesday and it was much as we thought it would be.

'The Environment Agency has taken on board everything that people have asked them to and looked at all the options, which is a plus point.

'The wall will prevent some small floods but it won't prevent the biggies and it won't protect Buxted or the north end of the town. I am not happy but I know that the Environment Agency bent over backwards to secure that money for us to build the wall.'

The government hands out funding on a points system and for the year 2005/06. A minimum score of 19 is required to be eligible for funding.

An upstream storage scheme for Uckfield was given a score of 5.3. However, 500,000 has been secured to build the low wall and the Environment Agency strongly believes this will prevent some floods.

Andrew Gilham, flood risk manager for the agency, said: 'There are two ways to secure funding. The first is directly through government and the second is through a local levy that is raised by the Southern Regional Flood Defence Committee whose members comprise local authorities as well as members appointed by the government.'

Local authorities make financial contributions every year that come out of council tax but in Sussex these have been limited.

However, the money for the wall has come from a combination of the last two year's levy and building will start in January.

Mr Gilham said the upstream storage would be effective but the wall would still be necessary. 'It is important that the wall is built as well because the two work well together, the work that we have done has confirmed that the wall is the preferred option, none of the other options enable us to secure national funding.

'From a technical point of view, the upstream storage would significantly reduce flooding in the Uck valley. It would have to be a large reservoir and would have to be constructed in a certain way to adhere to strict guidelines and that is why it is so expensive, you cannot afford to get it wrong.

'If the forum could secure the money then we would want to talk to them and take it forward but there are ongoing maintenance costs involved as well.'

l A full page Environment Agency advert warning of flood risks appeared in The Times on Wednesday, illustrated with a picture of the 2000 floods in Uckfield.