Sir,

In response to: Long-awaited flood report was ‘a waste of time and money’ says MP on page 3 of the Champion (6^th February)

It’s deeply disappointing that WLBC and LCC have sidelined yet another expensive consultant’s report on flooding.This is what Burscough Flooding Group (BFG) think happened to Ormskirk’s Flood Report (if anyone knows better then please get in touchbfg@fullstopltd.co.uk).April 2017

Jacobs finishes its study of Ormskirk’s flooding problems and issues its report to the Flood Risk Management Authorities (FRMA) Lancashire County Council (LCC), West Lancashire Borough Council (WLBC) and United Utilities (UU). The FRMAs keep Jacob’s Ormskirk Flood Report secret from the public. WLBC instructs Jacobs to adjust the emphasis within its conclusions.

January 2018

The revised Jacob’s Ormskirk Flood report is re-issued to the FRMAs.The report still conflicts with the draft new local plan, because the basic tenets of flood prevention is to move developments to areas with adequate infrastructure which don’t flood from any source.The FRMAs continue to keep Jacob’s Ormskirk Flood Report secret from the public.

January 2019

The new local plan consultation is complete and the supporting evidence base ignores the evidence in Jacob’s Ormskirk Flood Report. The FRMAs agree to making Jacob’s Ormskirk Flood Report public.

February 2019

LCC undertake a damage limitation exercise by pretending that the report is brand new information to the FRMAs and write to the Champion where they state they will ensure, “the [flooding and drainage] issue is considered when development is planned in the future”, and consider, “opportunities to fund [flood prevention and drainage] improvements through future developments”.In conclusion, BFG really thinks whichever FRMA was responsible for side lining the Jacobs report for Ormskirk should be made to refund the cost of the report to central government. Exactly the same thing happened to the 2010 Entec report on Burscough which was kept secret until 2016 whilst the last local plan was completed.Unfortunately, Burscough Flooding Group can only expect the same shenanigans when Jacobs finishes its report on Burscough’s widespread flooding problems (due March 2019)?

Thank you,

Gavin Rattray – Secretary Burscough Flooding Group