MP visits flood prevention work in Sayers Common
Arundel & South Downs MP Nick Herbert visited Sayers Common on Friday morning (22 January) to see work that has been carried out to prevent flooding in the village.
Judith Marsh, Chairman of the Planning & Environment Committee for Hurstpierpoint & Sayers Common parish council, invited Mr Herbert to see how money from Operation Watershed has been spent. They were joined by County Councillor Peter Griffiths, and drainage expert Nick Bailey of Town and Country Ponds Ltd.
They visited a section of one the watercourses which has been extensively cleared and further dug out to enable water to flow away from the village. The watercourse was in a badly deteriorated state and caused surface water flooding.
Judith has acted as the Sayers Common flood ‘champion’ by leading the project to alleviate flooding in the village. An application was made for a share of Operation Watershed funds on behalf of the Sayers Common Village Hall committee.
The fund was established in 2013 by West Sussex County Council, using £8.25 million from reserves. The Sayers Common committee was awarded £21,740 of funding which paid for the work.
Following his visit, Mr Herbert said: “It was good to be able to see first-hand the work that is being carried out to alleviate surface water flooding in Sayers Common.
“I met Judith Marsh four years ago at a flooding summit which I convened to look at how to tackle these issues. I am pleased that the County Council made funding available to help prevent flooding in places like this, and I congratulate Judith and her committee for taking this initiative on behalf of the community".
ENDS
Notes
1. Photograph – left to right, Judith Marsh, Nick Herbert MP, Nick Bailey, Councillor Peter Griffiths.
2. A new phase of Operation Watershed funding of £500,000 is to be decided by West Sussex County Council at the next Full Council on February 16. For more information see https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/news/operation-watershed-proposed-to-return/.