Questions raised over flood risk of LRIE redevelopment

Fears that the redevelopment of the London Road Industrial Estate (LRIE) could lead to flooding in Newbury have been raised.

Questions have been tabled at this week’s executive committee meeting of West Berkshire Council asking who is responsible for maintaining diverted waterways at the site.

“If the council wants to redevelop its London Road Industrial Estate, surely the situation with drainage of and through the site needs thorough investigation,” said Tony Vickers (Lib Dem, Wash Common).

“It is now two years since a study of the catchment of the North Brook, which drains all the town centre north of the Kennet into the Lambourn River – something that didn’t happen naturally until the LRIE was developed by its predecessors in the 1960s – showed that its presents a flood risk to properties downstream of there.

“Several options were offered by its consultants. A decision must be made which to take before redevelopment is undertaken.”

The question has been put to the executive which meets today (Thursday).