Lib Dem takes to the air to view flood plains

The River Adur through Shoreham at full capacity, with a soggy airfield to the right

Jemima Bland, Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for East Worthing and Shoreham, said the area consisted of ‘shining pools of water collecting on soggy land’.

She was taken up from Shoreham Airport and was flown over the area in a light aircraft.

“As we were flying over the River Adur, I could see the water level was barely six inches below its banks next to the airfield,” she said.

“Across the landscape, waterways look about to breach their boundaries. Any kind of surge would spell disaster.

“As my experienced pilot noted, there is no question that sea and river levels are rising dramatically.”

Ms Bland was aiming to highlight the Adur Local Plan, which includes new developments on the flood plains, describing them as ‘folly’.

She added: “All development on our flood plains must be stopped now. Only then can we begin seriously to plan our protections against future flooding.”

She was referring particularly to plans for more than 1,000 houses on two sites, at New Monks Farm in Lancing and land in West Sompting.