Barbara Young, Environment Agency CEO

Rio House, Waterside Drive, Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4UD

Dear Ms Young

I am preparing a submission for the Pitt Review on Flooding, focussing specifically on lack of critical watercourse maintenance for various reasons.

Apparently the Environment Agency produce annual statistics on applications for consent to carry out works on main rivers and ordinary watercourses and receive annual reports from Local Authorities and Internal Drainage Boards on the use of their statutory powers on ordinary watercourses.

Can you please supply me with a copy of the last ten years annual statistics on applications for consent to carry out works on main rivers and ordinary watercourses?

I am particularly interested in the following:-

a) EA permission of consent for applications to maintain watercourses

b) EA refusal of consent for applications to maintain watercourses

c) EA prosecutions for watercourse maintenance without EA permission

d) EA enforcement actions taken to ensure maintenance of watercourses

Yours sincerely

Ewan Larcombe (signed)

Copy:

Sir John Harman

Local MPs and Councillors

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