18 May 2011
THE FOLLOWING IS A STATEMENT WE HAVE TODAY RECEIVED FROM THE DEVELOPERS VIA SUE WANNOP WITH REGARD TO THE WORK THAT IS HAPPENING WHERE THE PONDS ARE:
"STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF THE MELBURY FLOODPLAIN WORKS
"This statement addresses concerns expressed over the drainage of the pools of
water that have accumulated south of Melbury, between the two balancing ponds.
The original reserved matters approval refers to an open space plan that shows this
area to be predominately amenity grassland with occasional areas of scrub. This
water has prevented us from implementing the approved scheme. These works will
therefore enable us to remedy this. In addition, early discussions with Newcastle
Airport established a requirement to minimise open water and plant any essential
ponds with dense reed cover, as we did with the two balancing ponds. We were
therefore in breach of this agreed protocol until we undertook these works.
"Finally,the regrading of the A1 acoustic bund included a cut off ditch. The flood plain works
will allow water from this ditch to be piped into the larger balancing pond.
This work was included in the most recent planning application for the strategic open
spaces, approved by Newcastle City Council on 29th December 2010. Formal
consent was also obtained from the Environment Agency on 19th April 2011."