AS the lead local flood authority in the county, Hampshire County Council has produced a draft Groundwater Management Plan (GWMP) to identify and assess the nature and extent of groundwater flooding across the county and propose measures to address it.

Two areas in the Andover area have been identified.

The Bourne Rivulet villages have been identified as 10th most at risk from ground water flooding while Appleshaw is ranked at number 7.

The council is seeking views on the draft plan to make sure it is up to date and reflects people’s views and experiences before it is finalised.

In particular, the council would like to know: does the plan accurately reflect your experience and understanding of the risk from groundwater flooding in this area and are there measures which have been implemented in here and not reflected in the action plan(s)?

The council also would like to hear the views of residents to see if there are any other reasonable measures which could address, mitigate or reduce the future risk of groundwater flooding in these areas?

Hampshire’s executive member for economy, transport and environment, Councillor Seán Woodward, said: “Hampshire has a known history of groundwater flooding.

“During the winter of 2000/2001 over 100 towns and villages across the county suffered significant flooding, with over 400 properties flooded and significant disruption and damage caused to infrastructure.

“After extensive evaluation and preventative measures being implemented by ourselves, Winchester City Council and the Environment Agency we are now looking to re-visit these issues in a new Groundwater Management Plan which seeks to provide a more current picture which we can work from.”

All comments on the GWMP should be submitted to the County Council no later than 5pm on Friday, 20 December.

Comments can be emailed to fwm@hants.gov.uk and marked ‘GWMPComments’, or posted to: County Planning in Winchester.