New flooding study by the Environment Agency for New Forest

AN increase in flooding incidents has prompted a study by the Environment Agency, a district council meeting heard.

Cllr Steve Davies, cabinet member for environment and coastal services, told members at Monday’s meeting that the flood and coastal risk management strategy would be undertaken in 2025/26.

“The potential impact of flooding is something we are all concerned about,” he said.

“As you will no doubt be aware, there are various partner organisations with responsibility for flooding, particularly where it is coastal or fluvial.

“We are aware that the Environment Agency has a proposal to undertake a flood and coastal risk management strategy for the east side of the district. This will specifically cover from Lymington all the way round to Redbridge.”

The announcement of the study came following a question from Cllr Stephanie Osborne, who asked what was being done to combat flooding locally.

“Recently Shore Road in Hythe was impassable,” she said. “The water was so deep it would have even prevented a 4x4 car.

“Beaulieu was also flooded [recently] by the river, and huge congestion built up as cars could only pass on the kerb side.”

Cllr Davies said he had met with a resident and Cllr Philip Dowd, who represents Hythe and Dibden Parish Council, last year over concerns about flooding in Hythe.

He was also aware of the result of spring tides in Beaulieu, he added.

Cllr Davies said: “I have asked our officers to form a report on the concerns raised with our contacts at the Environment Agency so they can be aware of localised issues.”