INDEPENDENT experts are to examine the controversial drainage scheme put in by the Ramshill estate developers to solve the flooding problem. In addition, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) will take another look at the site, after reporting last year that the designated kickabout area was a high-risk hazard to small children. The new reports have been called for by East Hampshire district councillors who are concerned about the future of that section of the site, which was earmarked as an open play area during the planning stages of the 276-house Ramshill development. Last year, councillors were horrified to discover that what had been a gently sloping grassy area had turned into a basin-shaped balancing pond with huge water-drainage tanks under it. A drainage solution had become necessary because the area was prone to flooding. It had been ankle-deep in water after heavy rain last year, despite a long, dry summer, raising concerns that the area was a danger to children and could no longer be used by them. Their fears were backed by the ROSPA report, which pointed out several dangers on the site. In November last year, East Hampshire district councillors warned developers that they would take them to court and demand financial compensation, if they did not make the play area safe. The head of EHDC's planning development services, Daryl Phillips, advised councillors he did not believe the kickabout area was fit for its purpose and was in breach of the developer's agreement with the council relating to the provision and maintenance of public open space. Now Mr Phillips has reported that much remedial work has been carried out on the Ramshill drainage scheme over the winter months. In a new letter to councillors, he told them: "It appears that the permeability of the balancing pond has been increased, but final verification has been hampered by the low rainfall over the last couple of months." He told them the land was currently rock solid after dry weather, "and therefore subject to some ponding in the event of heavy rain, but it does appear in any event to be working much better than the position observed last summer". But he stressed that in order for councillors to be satisfied that the remedial works had been successful, he believed councillors should seek "independent verification of the works carried out, along with a functional assessment of how the overall drainage scheme works in heavy rain situations". He said his concern was that it appeared that the holding tanks were discharging water too quickly in circumstances where he had been led to believe that no overflow was necessary. Mr Phillips said the developer had agreed to pay for a full independent assessment, which would be carried out by an expert agreed by EHDC. But he warned that the survey depended on periods of rain and would probably take at least three months to complete. Mr Phillips added that the developer would also be arranging a new ROSPA report to confirm that the safety issues raised in the first survey had been addressed. He told The Herald that once the reports had been completed, the matter would be taken back to councillors for discussion. "If there is an issue over the fitness of the land for use as a kickabout area, the developer will have to compensate for the loss of usable land," he said.
