Lucy Harding
- 2-Apr-2008 - The Environment Agency is
inviting people concerned about river flooding
in Rother and Romney to help identify how
it can be managed for the next 100 years.
It is developing the Rother & Romney
Catchment Flood Management Plan and the
draft is now available for public consultation.
Catchment Flood Management
Plans are large-scale plans that explore
and identify how flood can be managed long-term.
The consultation phase allows anyone with
an interest in the Rother and Romney area,
which includes Hastings, Mayfield, Etchingham,
Tenterden, Romney Marsh, Hamstreet and Folkestone,
to contribute to the plan. All comments
must be received by 9 June 2008.
Andrew Pearce, Environment
Agency Kent & East Sussex Area Flood
Risk Manager, said: “This report has been
compiled in partnership with a number of
organisations to further understand the
flood risk in the Rother & Romney catchment.
An important part of this process is for
local people to express their views and
concerns before we develop the final plan,
which will identify the most appropriate
way of managing flood risk in this area.
“We can’t stop all flooding
but we can try and reduce the risk. If you
want to find out if you are at risk, call
us or check our website – you will then
be able to get further advice and register
with our free flood warning service.”
After the consultation
period, the Environment Agency will continue
to work with its partners to ensure that
policies will manage flood risk as well
as achieving additional environmental benefits.
Members of the public can inspect copies
of the document at the following libraries:
Rye Library, Tenterden Library, Hythe Library,
New Romney Library, Hastings Library, Hawkhurst
Library. A copy is also available on our
website at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Interested parties wishing
to comment on the report should respond
to: Regional Strategic and Development Planning,
Environment Agency, Guildbourne House, Chatsworth
Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 1LD or
email rebecca.reynolds@environment.agency.gov.uk
by 9 June 2008.
To find out about our
flood warning service and how you can protect
yourself and your home call Floodline on
0845 988 1188 or visit: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodline.
+ More
New Environmental Permits
will cut red tape, save money, and put a
spotlight on high risk businesses
National Press Office
- 3-Apr-2008 - New Environmental Permitting
Regulations come into force this weekend
in England and Wales, reducing red tape
whilst protecting the environment and human
health.
Environmental permits
are required for industrial and waste activities
which could harm human health or the environment
unless they are controlled. The new system
means businesses will find it simpler and
less costly to be environmentally responsible.
Part of a joint Defra,
Environment Agency and Welsh Assembly Government
initiative, the Regulations which become
effective on 6 April streamline and integrate
Waste Management Licensing (WML) and Pollution
Prevention Control (PPC) into one single
regulatory system, replacing over 40 separate
sets of regulations.
Joan Ruddock, Minister
for Climate Change, Biodiversity and Waste,
said: "This is an important initiative
that cuts down red tape and provides an
easier and more flexible permit.
“The changes will have
benefits for a wide range of low-risk businesses,
but particularly for smaller enterprises,
which often have limited time and resources
to spend on form filling.
“In line with the government’s
Better Regulation agenda these clearer and
simpler regulations will reduce the administrative
burden for industry and regulators, saving
around £76 million over 10 years.”
The Environment Agency’s
Chief Executive Baroness Barbara Young stressed
that: “The new Environmental Permitting
Regulations are in keeping with our role
as a modern, risk based regulator.
“Not only will many
operators have quicker, easier and more
cost-effective regulation, but the Environment
Agency will be able to concentrate more
of its resources on the riskiest and worst
performing operators, leading to a better
protected environment.”
Additional benefits and cost-savings will
be delivered through the second phase of
the Environmental Permitting Programme (EPP2):
Defra, the Environment Agency and WAG are
currently looking to expand the new single
system by including further permitting regimes.
Detailed information
on the Environmental Permitting Programme
can be found on Defra’s webpage www.defra.gov.uk/environment/epp/
or click on the link to the left.
