FEARS that earth moving in connection with the East Street development could place residents elsewhere at risk of flooding have been expressed by the Environment Agency. The warning that it may object to the plans came just days before Waverley councillors heard how, regardless of the development, evacuation of elderly people from homes near the river in Farnham must figure in emergency planning. In a completely unrelated presentation on flood planning being made to Waverley's environment overview committee, Keith Allen, Waverley's safety and emergency planning adviser, highlighted homes in council, private and charity ownership on the flood plain in Farnham. The Riverside area is heavily concentrated with developments for the elderly, including Waverley's Shepherds Court and Falkner Court and Abbeyfield's Hatch Mill and Wey Valley House. "That will give us some challenge in a flood event in Farnham - we would have to evacuate them. "If you have actually got the river flooding and you are trying to deal with that across a fair chunk of the town, at the same time you have these issues to deal with in connection with people who are more vulnerable." In its letter to Waverley concerning Crest Nicholson's East Street planning application, the Environment Agency has suggested that climate change does not appear to have been considered in the flood risk assessment submitted in connection with the proposals. It warns of the consequences of "not using the correct flood levels". And a claim of an agreement between the agency and the developer's flood risk consultant over the appropriate figures to be used is queried. "The Environment Agency would like to see written proof of this agreement," Waverley is told in the agency's letter. The letter also reveals that the Environment Agency's land contamination team has found contamination of both the soils and groundwater on the site, meaning remediation schemes will be necessary to prevent contamination of the River Wey during development. The area is also mentioned as important for otters, water voles and a number of other declining invertebrates. Consequently, it is suggested a number of important biodiversity improvements can be made to the application. A leaflet produced by Crest Nicholson, urging that supporters of the application should write to Waverley Council, was dropping on doormats across the town this week. But as The Herald went to press, Waverley Council's website registered 4,321 letters of objection, 18 of support and three neutral. Tomorrow (Saturday) is the final day of Crest Nicholson's exhibition at the 40Degreez youth centre off Dogflud Way. It can be viewed from 9.30am to 1.30pm.
