New Law aims to Reduce Localised Flooding

Cllr Anna Jones reports that from 1st October new rules for householders come into force, aimed at allowing water to drain through front gardens which are to be surfaced for use as parking for vehicles.

Regulations stipulate that if the surface to be covered is more than 5 sq.m planning permission will be needed for laying traditional, impermeable driveways. This includes conventional paving slabs and concrete which do not control rainwater run off. If the new driveway or parking area drains naturally or is made of permeable or porous surfacing, which allows water to drain through, no planning permission will be needed. Materials which allow water to drain include gravel, permeable concrete block paving and porous asphalt.

Cllr Anna Jones, who sits on the borough council's planning committee, welcomed the new legislation. She said "Turning front gardens into parking for our cars has become a real problem in and around Epsom, but is increasingly necessary because of commuter parking problems which are taking up space on our roads. Until we get some kind of residents parking scheme, there's no alternative for many people. I've seen some good examples of front gardens turned over to parking : using a porous liner under 20 mm gravel not only drains well, but it looks good, doesn't kick everywhere like smaller shingle, and alerts you to intruders because it's noisy to walk on."

For more information about the new ruling, contact any member of the Planning Committee - Cllrs Jones, Kelly, Morgan and Taylor.